REPORT 



OF THE 



COMMITTEE ON GARDENS, 



FOR THE YEAR 1889. 



By JOHN G. BARKER. Chairman. 



We present to the Society a report of our proceedings during 

 another season. We have been called upon for visitation in our 

 official capacity less than we had hoped at the commencement of 

 the year we might be, but we trust that what we have to say will 

 be of interest, and that we can show that progress is being made 

 in the art to which most of us have given our lives thus far and 

 in which we expect to spend our remaining days. Undoubtedly 

 the season, which has been unusually wet, has had its influence to 

 decrease the number of invitations which otherwise the Committee 

 might reasonably have expected ; especially would this be true of 

 strawberry gardens and vineyards, as for several seasons the latter 

 have commanded the attention of your Committee more than any 

 other objects, and although the premiums that have been offered 

 have not been as large as some have thought they should be, we 

 think our past and present reports will show that a desire has 

 been created to improve the cultivation of our hardy grapes, and 

 we feel assured that no premiums have been offered which have 

 excited more worthy competition, and that at the same time they 

 have proved a strong stimulus to improved cultivation. 



Langwater Gardens, North Easton, the Residence of 

 Frederick L. Ames. 



The special object of our visits to this charming place was to 

 inspect the elegant collection of orchids, and at the times of 



