2 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



latter defect, take the groups of shnibbery, assorted with entire disre- 

 gard to their habits of growth, their form, color and time of flowering. 

 Instead of massing plants, homogeneous in their nature, the Kalmia 

 with the Rhodendron, for example, we find a dozen or two of these plants 

 scattered over the entire extent of ground and rendered ridiculous by 

 the side of some coarse shrub. 



Whatever may be deemed expedient in regard to changes of some of 

 the walks and some of the curves in the outline of the lake, in the opin- 

 ion of your Committee it does not admit of a doubt that no time is to be 

 lost in recasting and judiciously grouping the shrubbery. And this 

 should be done with such discretion that the object of the group should 

 be distinct, and that eftect should be sustained throughout the season, in 

 all parts of the ground, either by foliage or flowers. At present there is 

 too much sameness, and much of the growth is of coarse quality. 



The entire lack of some of the finest and most suitable plants, the 

 Japan Lily, for example, was quite noticeable. This lack was not com- 

 pensated by any skilful combinations of bedding-plants, or annuals, but, 

 on the contrary, the effect of these latter was diffuse and meagre in the 

 extreme. 



It hius been said that the grass appeared well. The soil is deep and 

 rich, and during this moist season the growth was strong. Being fre- 

 quently cut with the scythe, the effect was a pleasing green, especially 

 at a distance. But the sward was very poor, a mixture of weeds and 

 grasses of every sort, utterly unfit to remain. The only remedy will be 

 to turn the sward and resow with pure grasses. The city should no 

 longer be content with lawns so far inferior to many private lawns in its 

 vicinity. The extent of ground is so limited, the natural capacity and 

 the facilities are so excellent, and the object is so worthy and desirable 

 that there is no excuse why this work should not be carried to the per- 

 fection of landscape art. It will be no rival of the Central Park, but 

 as a model of pure taste and high art, it is capable of being made a 

 credit and a source of unmingled pleasure to the citizens. 



In this connection it becomes necessary to speak of the conservatory, 

 standing upon the public grounds. This is rented by the city, and as a 

 conservatory, for the sale of flowers, its management is creditable to the 

 gentleman who rents it. It will bear comparison with many establish- 

 ments of florists in this vicinity. But, considering the use to which it is 

 put, it could not be expected that the appearance of the house, or the 

 <5ollection of plants would be at all comparable with many of our best 

 private houses. It pretends to nothing more than the production of the 

 most profitable flowers at the least cost, to be cut as soon as opened. It 

 may be said that, as we expect nothing, we are not disappointed. But 

 •do we not, and have we not a right to expect soniewhat from a building 

 standing in so conspicuous a place upon public ground? The fact is that 

 strangers do and will hold the city answerable for such a structure and 



