340 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



found these plants stored in a pit about sixty feet square under 

 the stable. In the same pit were Ivies, Arauearias, Ehyjichosper- 

 mum jasminokles, and the more tender varieties of Rhododen- 

 drons, such asDalhousianum, Sesterianum, Gibsoni, Princess Alice, 

 Mrs. J. Shaw, and others. These with the Azaleas are removed 

 from the pit to the fruit houses about the 20th of April, and when 

 in bloom removed to the tent. While in the pit only enough heat 

 is given to prevent dampness, and the watering is carefully looked 

 after about once a week. 



The Italian garden is the most striking feature in the grounds. 

 In the eighth edition of Downing's "Landscape Gardening," enlarged 

 and revised by Henry Winthrop Sargent, Esq., at page 444, is an 

 account of this garden, in which we are informed that it is the most 

 successful, if not the only one, as yet, in the country. The descrip- 

 tion is illustrated by a plate, showing the balustrade with the steps 

 leading down to the garden, and many fine specimens of topiary work, 

 with a view of the lake beyond ; and as we imagine the fine build- 

 ings of Wellesley College located on the other side of the lake, a 

 scene of unequalled beauty is before us. The trees used for the 

 topiary v^^ork comprise White Pines 35 feet high trimmed in tiers, 

 others umbrella shaped, and many fine Norway Spruces 12 feet 

 high in a variety of forms, and some perfect specimens 25 feet 

 high. The P'uropean Larch is also quite a feature, yielding to the 

 knife as readily as evergreens, and when starting into growth is 

 very beautiful. Hemlocks, Arborvitais, Junipers, and Retinos- 

 poras, with a few deciduous trees such as Beeches, Birches, Maples, 

 etc., make up the whole. The number of trees under the shears 

 is 260. There are also two large clumps of Jietinospora j)isifera 

 avrea containing 50 plants each, trimmed so as to make a compact 

 mass 10 feet in width, and two circular beds each with Purple 

 Birch in the centre, and a carpet underneath 8 feet wide of Euony- 

 mus radicans variegata clipped close ; also a bed of ArborvitiB in 

 the centre, with Euonymus 7 feet across, and a mass of Hemlock 

 with Purple Beech in the centre 10 feet high. The effect of this 

 is very beautiful. 



The great bank of Hemlocks 200 feet in length and 12 feet in 

 width was originally planted in two rows about three feet apart, in 

 order to form a dense mass. This has been accomplished to per- 

 fection, and at equal distances cones were raised and time has 

 developed them so that they are now nearly ten feet above the 



