1 Z MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



trillium^ and nearly all the native plants from Acadia to west of the 

 Mississippi. 



At the outset, some five or six j-ears ago, the ''Glen Ridge Estate" 

 embraced about nine acres; being little more than a cluster of hills, 

 dells and ridges, near the river side, romantic and picturef-que, but of 

 such sandy or gravell}' soil, and so overgrown with x'ines and other trees 

 or under growth as to give little promise for cultivation. These ele- 

 ments were to be subdued and organized. There was little room even 

 for a good drive-way to the mansion house which has been since erected. 

 All the improvements are, therefore, confined in a great measure to that 

 area; but now the estate includes about two hundred acres and affords 

 ample scope for the boldest worker. For zeal in floi-iculture and a love 

 of horticulture, Mr. Eand has long been celebrated, and this visit has 

 atforded your Committee great satisfaction. If, when the eye is weary 

 and unable to judge of colors, the looking upon a ground of normal 

 green will restore its power and tone, can we Avonder that the garden 

 and the green relieve the weary mind's eye, and restore it to a healthy, 

 normal mood, giving new vigor to the judgment and the will? Well 

 would it be if professional gentlemen more frequently sought such 

 restoration and enjo3nnent ! 



The Committee award to Mr. Rand a gratuitj' of twenty dollars. 



On Friday, Sept. 4th, the Committee visited the 



Grounds of our late President, Joseph Breck, Esq., at 



Erightox, 

 where they found a fine display of double flowering Tortulacas. Many 

 of the flowers resembled exquisite miniature roses, of eveiy color, from 

 brilliant yellow to delicate white, buff, scarlet, variegated and crimson, — 

 a sight as beautiful as it was novel. The place makes slight pretensions 

 to landscape gardening and few attempts at grouping for effect, it being 

 for profit and experiment more than for show; but some fine asters and 

 zinnias, double and single, as well as balsams and phloxes were exhib- 

 ited. A few plants of rice, cotton and tobacco, from seeds, were growing 

 in the open air, not very promising. Mr. Breck has been so long known, 

 and holds so high a rank as a horticulturist, that it is needless to say 

 more. The Committee award to him a gratuity of ten dollars for his 

 success in raising the most lieautiful double Portulacas. 

 On the same day, your Committee visited the 



Grounds of W. C. Strong, Esq., on Nonantum Hill, at 



Brighton, 



where they were received with the most agreeable hospitality. Here 

 they were shown some very interesting experiments in the propagation 

 of plants, and a field of four acres, covered with potato plants of active 



