REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OS GARDENS. 347 



Mr. Hunnewell's Letter. 



Wellesley, November 27, 1887. 

 Mr. John G. Barker: 

 Dear Sir : 



With special reference to our conifers, to the cultivation of which 

 I have for mauy years given a good deal of attention, I hope my 

 experience may be of some practical benefit to the public. It may 

 possibly induce them to plant more of this class of ornamental 

 trees, and an inspection of my collection may enable them to do 

 so without the trouble and expense of testing the many different 

 varieties, some of which I have found are not hardy in our severe 

 climate. We have in our Pinetum, besides those scattered about 

 in different parts of the place, over one hundred specimens of 

 choice and rare evergreens, collected from all parts of the world, 

 which have been planted from ten to twenty-five years, and a suffi- 

 cient distance apart to allow the trees to grow and develop to full 

 size without crowding each other. Most of them are now so large 

 that they can be seen to the best advantage, and an idea can be 

 obtained of the special characteristics of each variety. I have 

 intended to give them good cultivation, and they are in a very 

 healthy condition, but most of them were planted on what would 

 be called a very poor gravelh' soil, and though I have of late years 

 improved its character essentially, still it rs not, even now, of first 

 quality, or the trees would show a much greater growth. 



There is of course great uncertainty attending the introduction 

 of foreign trees, but I have found that this question of hardiness 

 ought not to be decided hastily, for I have frequently despaired of 

 success, but have persevered, and after several importations have 

 been finally rewarded with most satisfactory results. 



Our trees have now been planted so many years, and have 

 thriven so admirably, that there can surely be no doubt that with 

 ordinar}^ care they are perfectly hardy, and well adapted to our 

 severe and trying climate ; and any one who takes an interest in 

 . the matter can satisfy himself on this point by a personal inspec- 

 tion of our trees. 



The Picea Nordmanniana is seen occasionally in this neighbor- 

 hood, and we have a dozen or more fine specimens, thirt}' feet 

 higb, on the place. It comes from the Crimean mountains, and is 



