Report of the Committee on Ornamental Gardening 



FOK THE YEAK 1873. 



H. W. FULLER, Chairman. 



The Society will remember that in July, 1871, the estate and 

 residence of William Gray, Jr., Esq., in Dorchester, known as 



The Hermitage, 



was entered as a competitor for the Hunnewell Prize, and a full 

 report thereon was made. Your Committee having again (on the 

 sixth of September) had the rare pleasure of a visit to this 

 admirable retreat, must now express their surprise and gratification 

 at the remarkable alterations, additions and improvements made 

 by Mr. Gra}^ in a single year. 



Upon first entering the grounds, there appears the same beauti- 

 fully dimpled and smooth-shaven lawn as before ; unbroken by 

 flower-beds or plantings — with all the breadth needed to exhibit 

 the undulations and peculiarities of surface, and the lights and 

 shadows of a varied landscape. There, too, remains the same 

 irregular and apparently natural skirting of trees, shrubbery and 

 conglomerate rocks on the left ; and the same suggestive tree-tops 

 and ravines across the wide, green carpet, on the right. The 

 approach to the house was in the same perfect order as on the last 

 occasion, and the mansion was dressed with the same luxuriant 

 vines. But beyond the house and in all that relates to the gardens, 

 the changes were very apparent. Since that time Mr. Graj^ has 

 added about four acres to his place, one-half of which has been 

 cojiverted into gardens. This addition of rich loam has already 

 been utilized and improved. The old paths in that direction 

 have been superseded by better and more extensive ways, and a 

 rose garden of large dimensions and great promise has already 

 been planted. About four hundred and fifty geraniums, of new 

 varieties, have been imported from the nurseries of Mr. Cannell, 

 which are planted in a single bed by themselves, for the purpose of 



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