REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS FOR 

 THE YEAR 1907. 



BY CHARLES W. PARKER, CHAIRMAN. 



The interest in this department of the Society's work has been 

 well maintained during the present year, the number of estates 

 and gardens examined exceeding that of the previous year. There 

 has been a notable increase in the entries for smaller gardens, a 

 feature which has been encouraged by the committee in the prepa- 

 ration of the schedule. There is an impression abroad that the 

 Society is interested only in the grander estates, but, while it de- 

 lights to call attention to these as showing the possibilities in land- 

 scape art on a large scale, it is equally desirous of encouraging the 

 horticultural development of the more modest city and suburban 

 gardens. The various visits of the year are reported upon as 

 follows : 



Stephen M. Weld's Estate, Dedham. 



By invitation of President Weld the first visit of the season was 

 made May 11 to his estate at Dedham. The mansion is pictur- 

 esquely situated upon high ground overlooking a great expanse 

 of the valley of the Charles River to the Blue Hills beyond. The 

 immediate home grounds at the time of the visit were adorned with 

 the gorgeous colorings of narcissi, tulips, hyacinths, and other 

 spring-flowering plants. 



Of noteworthy interest also were the numerous species of hardy 

 shrubs and the fine specimens of flowering crabs, shadbush, and 

 coniferous trees, all finding a congenial home on the ledges of the 

 hillside. 



Descending from the upland there comes into view a romantic 

 valley through which flows a brook breaking into foamy water as 

 it rushes over its rocky bed to the lower level of swampy land 



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