112 MASSACHUSETTS IlOin IC LLTUKAL SOCIETY. 



of these generous prizes, as well as that of the Society, is to elevate arid 

 stimulate the public taste, enlarge our conceptions and raise the standard 

 of horticulture so as to make it more ornamental and attractive. In 

 these examinations, therefore, they have not been disjjosed to apply too 

 rigidly all abstract rules, or to regard too closely or exclusivel}' mere 

 matters of polish or preternatural plan: hut they have endeavored to 

 consider whatever exhil)its a real advancement in the art of embellishing 

 estates and producing ornamental etl'ects, by any kind of horticulture: 

 by methods either new or old, or by novelties in plants or planting; or 

 by arrangement or treatment, original or borrowed; or even by superior 

 and successful manipulation, on an extended scale and for a proper 

 period of time. The}' have not turned away because a path might have 

 been better turned, or refused to approach the house because the avenue 

 might have had a better sweep; nor have they stopped at the steps be- 

 cause the forest trees were crowding too near, or the openings were too 

 small for the broad sunlight or to afford a vista or good out-look in 

 future upon finished lawns with Agaves and statues. They have taken 

 the place as a whole, looking rather to the advancement made, in the 

 right direction and for the common good, in all the essentials of garden 

 ornamentation, than to the nicety of the work or the artificial adorn- 

 ments of the last three or four years. 



It is evident that Mr. Kand, at the outset, cut his garment according 

 to the cloth; and it is equally evident that his views have expanded as 

 his acres have increased. lie is a progressive man, and has demonstrated 

 that several of our rarest and most showy jilants, JRhododendrojis in- 

 cluded, can be reared and domesticated as easily as a Currant bush. 

 For this he is entitled to all praise, as his example and teachings will be 

 the means of introducing these charming bloomers into more common 

 use. 



One of the mont remarkable features of " Glen Ridge " consists in tlie 

 pr(jfusion and great variety of superb Rhododendrons, planted by him, 

 in masses or single standards, full of lieauty! About one hundred and 

 fifty varieties are here gathered together, and by giving them a soil of 

 loam, sand and muck in equal parts, and then mulching them well with 

 tan, he causes tliem to grow and flower most luxuriantly and as if in 

 their native haltitat. On counting the heads of bloom on a single plant 

 (Lee's dark Purple) after several had been removed, it was found that 

 four hundred and thirty-seven remained. As each head would average 

 more than (en fiowers, the numl)er of ])looms on such a plant must have 

 exceeded four tlnMisand! Imagine the eifect of an immm.tc bed of such 

 Jilants! On the hill-side, just North of the house and below the l)road 

 jiiazza looking towards the river, a vast multitude of tliese tall and 

 vigorous ]tlants, grouped together, were in ])erfection of fiower, the 

 blooms nearly covering the foliage and presenting a floral displa}' seldom 



