33 



mens of New England forest trees, may be here found in the 

 lawns and woods ; and copses of our flowering shrubs intro- 

 duced with pleasing effect. Beside the native flowers of a 

 spontaneous growth carefully preserved and from this circum- 

 stance brilliantly covering the ground appropriated, the rarer 

 and more delicate have been introduced with sedulous care. 

 The showy orchideae succeed well. Each year adds some- 

 thing new, by transplanting or by seed. Not discouraged by 

 failures, repeated experiments have crowned with unexpected 

 success the efforts in the exposed growth of the Rhododen- 

 dron, Kalmia, Azalea, &c. &c. Such instances of vigorous 

 growth in Rhododendron Maximum, are seldom seen. 

 Kalmias of profuse inflorescence and of different colors cover 

 the ground in large patches. The past season has enabled 

 the Rhododendron and Azalea to produce a great quantity of 

 buds. In close proximity may be found Laurus Benzoin, 

 whose fragrant blossoms in early spring are perfuming the air, 

 and the Mystic Witch Hazel, whose golden fringes, are the 

 last mementos of the dying epoch of annual vegetation. 

 Nor are these fine native shrubs unrepresented by foreign 

 co-species, found capable of enduring our climate. To the 

 botanist we scarcely know of a spot so interesting in the 

 choice grouping of fine plants. We could wish that such ef- 

 forts in picturesque gardening were more frequent. The 

 winding paths amid the forest trees beneath which are the more 

 delicate or hardier flowers, which otherwise deny their pres- 

 ence to the pleasure ground, — the rude rock in whose crevi- 

 ces are growing the feathery fern, and on whose sides the 

 perennial moss, — the dehcious perfume of the Clethra min- 

 gled with the odor of the Azalea — the snowy or roseate co- 

 rols of the Broad-leaved Laurel, and the superb heads of the 

 Rhododendron Maximum, the northern Magnolia and its 

 southern sister species^ — flower, shrub, tree, lawn, hill and 

 dale, in happy unison, from the co-operation of Nature and 

 Art — these we conceive to be worthy of attention in the 

 5 



