REPORT OF THE GARDEN COMMITTEE, 1878. 443 



were greatly pleased with the fernery and the arrange- 

 ment of plants in it. Mr. Sargent annually threw 

 open his grounds to the public, and multitudes availed 

 themselves of his liberality, and were delighted with 

 the successful combination of natural advantages with the 

 results of art in the management of trees and shrubs 

 and the laying out of the grounds. 



The second visit was on the 22d of June, to the 

 "Hermitage," the residence of William Gray, jun., 

 president of the Society, which received the Hunnewell 

 Prize in 1873, and was then fully described. A spa- 

 cious tent, covering a garden of tropical palms, ferns, 

 and other plants, grouped in the happiest manner, had 

 been added since that time. The rose garden, which 

 was then just commenced, now presented a remarkably 

 vigorous growth. There were fewer flower beds on the 

 lawn, leaving it in its beautiful simplicity. Neither Mr. 

 Sargent's nor Mr. Gray's estate was entered for prize. 



On the 23d of July the committee visited the garden 

 of William Dor an and Son of Brookline, which was 

 entered for the prize for the best garden of small fruits. 

 It consisted of about two acres of land, which, from a 

 rough and rocky state, had been brought under cultiva- 

 tion by great toil and perseverance, and planted and cul- 

 tivated solely by Mr. Doran and his family, who were 

 reaping the reward of their labor in a comfortable sub- 

 sistence from the strawberries, currants, raspberries, and 

 grapes produced thereon. The committee awarded to 

 Mr. Doran a gratuity, in token of their appreciation of 

 his perseverance and success in small fruit gardening. 



On the 9th of August the committee paid a second 

 visit to the estate of Francis B. Hayes, which was the 

 year before entered for the Hunnewell Triennial Pre- 



