286 MASSACHUSETTS HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



adapted to basket culture is the ^schynanthus grandijlorus. It is 

 a handsome, free flowering plant, whose habit of growth is very 

 distinct, and it is but little troubled with insects. There was also 

 a nice lot of the bright Poinsettia pulcherrima. They were young 

 plajits, and the bright bracts on each plant were large and strik- 

 ingly effective. This is also a fine decorative plant. 



The collection of azaleas is unusually good ; many of them have 

 been shown at our exhibitions, and at this time, January 1, 1889, 

 they promise to look as well as ever at the next flowering season. 

 Much more might be r.dded to this hasty glimpse of an excellent col- 

 lection which is so skilfully handled by Mr. Atkinson, but his being 

 so well known to 3'ou all, and being better known by his works than 

 he can be by our pen, makes us feel sure that when we say that 

 success has crowned his efforts on everj' hand, you will bear us 

 witness that our statement to that effect is his just due. 



The principal object of our visit was the Spring Garden, — a 

 new feature of garden work in this vicinity, at least on a special 

 scale. Of course, spring gardening has received more or less 

 attention from many ; like everything else it has its place and 

 might be introduced to good advantage very much more than it 

 now is, and we trust that the example which has been set and so 

 well inaugurated ma^' stimulate those especially' who have not the 

 facilities afforded by greenhouses for raising their summer bedding 

 plants, to go and do likewise. At our request, Mr. Atkinson has 

 given us the following statement iu regard to this part of the 

 grounds : 



" The present site of the Spring Garden was a flower garden 

 over forty years ago. Its surroundings were trees and shrubs, 

 and conveyed the impression that it was hewn out of the forest. 

 It was surrounded by a walk which formed a square ; inside that 

 was an oval walk, and then walks at right angles, so that a large 

 portion of the space was used up in paths, rendering it dr}' and 

 accessible at all times, yet the glare of the sunlight destroyed 

 that repose which such a retreat should possess. Now, without 

 injuring any of the plantation, a nragical change has been effected. 



" The walks have been removed, green grass substituted, and 

 a large mass of shrubs has been added all around the inner lines, 

 and a gradually- undulating surface of vegetation from bulb-growth 

 to trees fort}- or more feet high is found. When inside, one is shut 

 out from all else. Care has been taken to exclude all shrubs and 



