78 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Corporation have certainly shown the utmost liberality in the 

 care of their grounds, and the proprietors of lots have been equally 

 anxious to embellish the place. Many costly monuments have been 

 added, and the general success has been very great. Your Committee 

 have found much to approve and little to condemn: but they cannot 

 close this notice without some mention of the lot of William Dwight, 

 Esq., (on Consecration Avenue and Weigelea and Lily Paths.) 



Here the characteristics of fine taste and exquisite feeling are mani- 

 fested. Starting evidently without a thought of cost, with the sole 

 intent to pay perpetual honor to the dead, without any bald display, 

 and so to build that time should not impair, or frosts disturb the 

 memorial to be reared, he selects a lot of large dimensions, backed by 

 huge bowlders of brown conglomerate rock; and after securing well 

 the boundaries, and smoothing the earth into lawn, he makes these 

 bowlders the monuments of the lot. On the nearly perpendicular face 

 of one — which has a slight projection, like a visor, near the top — a 

 recess is cut, with sides so rough that no mark of chisel can be found. 

 This recess is like the entrance to a tomb with massive doors; and 

 fitting it closely a large memorial tablet of solid bronze is here in- 

 serted, highly ornamented and artistic, with two swords in the centre 

 and wreaths of bay in high relief, and thereon, in lasting letters, are 

 inscribed the names of his two patriot sons, who gave their lives for 

 our country: 



" Wilder Dwight, Lieut. 2d Keg. Mass. Volunteers, killed at the 

 battle of Antietam." 



"Howard Dwight, Assistant Adjutant General." 



Over the rock, and coming down, as if to do homage to these names, 

 were wild vines growing. All the surroundings were in perfect har- 

 mony, and the whole was exceedingly suggestive to the observing 

 mind. 



The Committee, in closing, would acknowledge their obligations to 

 the Commissioners, and to Mr. Morton, for one of the most agreeable 

 visits of the season, and recommend that a gratuity of Twenty Dollars 

 be awarded to Forest Hills Cemetery for its marked improvement. 



Mount Auburn and Woodlawn Cemeteries have not been visited this 

 year by your Committee in a body, but individual members report 

 great improvements in them, and Woodlawn has lately added seventy- 

 six acres to her territory. 



Col. Wilder's Grounds. 



After leaving Forest Hills your Committee accepted the invitation of 

 our tried friend. Col. Marshal P. Wilder, to visit his place in Dorchester. 

 As usual they did not leave him without gaining pleasure and profit. 



