346 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



thoroughly harden. This makes complete benches which no 

 amount of dampness can affect. In the cool orchid house a 

 cement tank, three and a half feet wide and live or six inches 

 deep, runs the entire length of the front bench. This is kept filled 

 with water, and is so arranged that it can easily be drained off, and 

 fresh water can be supplied whenever needed. Everything is 

 thoroughly done, and glass and iron in the roof, and' cement walls, 

 benches, and walks form a clean, substantial house. 



There are in all thirteen houses, besides many outside pits and 

 frames devoted to the various uses required for the successful car- 

 rying on of this beautiful and well managed place. We must not 

 forget to mention that the crop of peaches and nectarines in the 

 long ranges of glass (300 feet by IG) were as usual very fine and 

 of 8upe:b quality. 



Much might properly be added to this brief glimpse of Mr. 

 Hunnewell's !)e:iutiful estate. The superl)ly arranged flower gar- 

 den, admired b}' all, unique and beautiful of itself, deserves more 

 than a brief mention, and perhaps we may be enabled to make 

 special note of it another season. It is only justice to sa}' that 

 the entire place was in the l)est possible condition, and all that 

 skill and art could do was here shown. To give a detailed de- 

 scription of the perfect beauty of the whole requires more ability, 

 time, and space than your Chairman can command. We can do 

 no less, however, than to extend to Mr. Hunnewell our hearty 

 thanks for the kind reception we all enjoyed, and for his 

 unbounded liberality in throwing open to the public his elegant 

 grounds, the beneficial influence of which on the thousands who 

 every year enjoy their beauty cannot be estimated. Our thanks 

 are also due and heartily extended to Mr. Harris, who is always 

 ready to give any information at his command, and to whom we 

 are indebted for the facts, so freely given, which help to make up 

 this report. We take pleasure in adding a letter from Mr. Hunne- 

 well, which we arc sure will be read with great interest by all. 



Ap[)rovcd by the Committee, January 7, 1888. 



John G. Hakkku, 



J. H. W()()i)i-()Ki), 



E. W. Wood, , ^ , 



/^, AT T) V Garden 



C. N. liKACKKTT, ) ^ ... 



C iiAKi.Ks W. Ross, 1 

 Hkn.iamin (J. SMrrii, j 

 Heniiy W. Wilson, / 



