GARDEN committee's REPORT. 59 



could always be consulted, we should see more variety and less con- 

 fusion, more beds of kindred colors, more adaptation of plants to place 

 and soil, and vastly more harmony and completeness in all our cemete- 

 ries. The question is not whether flowers are beautiful, but how they 

 can be made most charming and attractive. As it is, the Superintend- 

 ents of our burial grounds cannot pi-event these blemishes, and are not 

 responsible for them. It is well that our community have so many per- 

 sons of cultivated taste, who do cooperate heartily in embellishing our 

 gardens of the dead. 



Your Committee also made a casual visit to the Oak Hill Cemetery, 

 of Kewburyport, and such of them as examined the spot were highly 

 pleased, not only with the location, but with the economy, taste and 

 skill there displayed. Caj)tain Nathaniel Osgood seems to have given 

 up, in the most unstinted manner, time and money to the ground. He 

 has long been its Superintendent, without salary, and has thus done good 

 service to his fellow-citizens. The gateway, at the entrance, is ex- 

 tremely pleasing, and was a gift of John Tappan, Esq., a former resident 

 of the town. 



On the same day, (August 28th), by invitation of Dr. E. G. Kelley, 

 of Kewburyport, the Committee visited his residence, known as the 

 "-£7(7e/-r/reens," and found his enthusiasm and hospitality still unabated. 

 The day was fine, and they had ample opportiinity to inspect the grounds, 

 trees, hedges, flowers and plants, and to learn the plan and views of the 

 owner. 



The whole estate embraces about sixteen acres, being three hundred 

 feet on the street, and descends southerly seven or eight hundred feet to 

 a piece of low land, containing a small pond. The soil was naturally 

 clayey and wet, but has been redeemed by ten under-ground drains 

 through the garden and orchard. The access to the mansion-house is 

 by a neat, pear-shaped curve, and evergreens, clipped and cut into 

 peculiar forms, almost disguising their sijecies, are near the dwelling. 

 If the design was to show how far it is possible to make Nature co- 

 operate with art, or to exhibit a pure specimen of the ancient style, with 

 ruflles, brocade dress, and ornaments to match, the experiment was in- 

 complete from want of space and projier variety and surroundings. 

 The Committee could easily imagine that if a well developed Norway 

 Spruce, with outstretched arms and drapery deep, could rise up there 

 alone, like a judge in his robes, it might pronounce a hard judgment 

 upon such inflictions upon its kind. A single tree, however, showed 

 great care in its shaping and growth. And whole hedges of hemlock, 

 and spruce, and of Weigelia rosea exhibited wonderful success in the 

 planting, trimming and thickening. These were much admired. They 

 formed a good protection for the garden, and were free of deac'-wood 

 and disease. They were set in straight lines, and around small areas, 



