110 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Report of (Committee on Ornamental Gardening, 

 for the year 1870- 



BY H. W FULLER, CHAIRMAN. 



The Committee on Oi'iiainental Gardening have less than usual to 

 report. The past season has, indeed, been very favorable to fruits; but 

 the extreme and long-continued drought has made all attempts at orna- 

 mental horticulture of doubtful or inferior success. Few persons, there- 

 fore, were anxious to exhibit their places. Under a burning sun, in the 

 absence of rain, green became broken, the commonly mellow earlh became 

 rigid and uncompromising — and the very weeds hung down their heads 

 in seeming despair. Time and again, visits proposed were postponed in 

 the hope of some refreshing shower, until, one by one, all the summer 

 months passed by, foreclosing the duties and the pleasures contemplated. 



In this manner your Committee lost the opportunity of examining the 

 interesting grounds and doings of Capt. O. C. Gibbs of Newton — to 

 which they were specially invited. They were thus prevented, also, 

 from visiting, as requested, other places of interest (including the Pear 

 Nursery of Mr. McDormott of Dorchester). But before the drought 

 commenced, namely, in the first week of June, your Committee, with 

 Homo other members of this Society, made a most agreeable visit to the 

 homestead of Edward S. Eand, Jr., in Dedham, known as 



"GLEN RIDGE." 



Early in the year 1808 this estate was entered as a competitor for the 

 '' Ilunnewell Prize;" and the Committee of that year approvingly called 

 your attention to the same. Again, in 1809, they visited the spot and were 

 much impressed b}' the improvement made, particularly b}- the intro- 

 duction and growth of many rare shrubs, plants and bulbs, giving fine 

 indications for the future; of which the llhododendrons, Kalmias, and 

 Azaleas were, perhaps, the most remarkable. They now have the 

 pleasure to report, that having again examined " Glen Ridge," and 

 again jiartaken of its hospitalities and more carefully noted its localities, 

 they have regarded with great satisfaction the progress and results of 

 the last three years. 



In 1800 the place was almost a wilderness. In 1861 a clearing for a 

 dwelling and garden was made and a house erected. In 1862 the man- 



