REPORT 



or THE 



COMMITTEE ON GARDENS 



FOR THE YEAR 1885. 



By JOHN G. BARKER, Chairman. 



In bringing before you the report of this Committee for the 

 year now closing, we do so with a degree of satisfaction tliat the 

 object sought in the formation of the Committee has been more 

 adequately attained in this than in some recent vears. In lookino- 

 over the History of the Society we see that in some former 

 years they were more frequently called upon than of late ; and at 

 times it appeared as though all the gardens of any note in this 

 vicinity had been visited. We cannot avoid a feeling of regret that 

 opportunities are not even more frequently presented for the per- 

 formance of the duties of this Committee. With the increase in 

 the number of gardens and the general advance of horticulture, in 

 this special line we are hardly keeping pace with the times. 

 There was no application for the prize for the Amateur Conserva- 

 tory, or the Collection of Hardy Biennial and Perennial Herbaceous 

 Plants : and for the Peach Orchard, of course none was expected. 



The Middlesex Fells. 

 The first visit of the season was made July 13th, when by 

 invitation of the Hon. Elizur Wright, your Committee viewed the 

 Middlesex Fells. It is doubtless well known to you all that 

 Mr. Wright has taken a very deep interest in this project from its 

 earliest inception, and has done all that lay in his power to make 

 it successful. With a desire that a more extended knowledge of 

 the Fells should be diffused, especially among the members of 



