BEAUTIFUL GARDENS IN AMERICA 



English gardens when we consider the poetical beauty 

 found in most of these illustrations ? 



Unfortunately, except in a few localities, our climate 

 does not encourage the perfect development of the choicest 

 of the evergreen hedge-plants, and yet with time we can 

 produce some moderately fine effects in hedges. We may 

 not hope soon to rival the best of the foreign gardens that 

 have been maturing through generations of continuous 

 care. Favored not only by climate but by riches unknown 

 to the early landowners of our States, the best of the old 

 gardens across the sea stand for the combined dreams of 

 the many minds which gradually evolved them, the loving 

 handiwork of innumerable patient toilers who have succes- 

 sively ministered to them. 



Just as there are gardens peculiar to other nations, 

 Dutch, French, Italian, etc., might we not give serious 

 consideration to evolving some day a type peculiarly 

 American, inasmuch as it would embody the poetic and 

 artistic sense of our country? Such a result might be at- 

 tained even should we claim the privilege of our individual 

 liberty, to plant, each one for the expression of his own 

 soul, thus keeping our gardens distinctly variable and 

 original in type, and so ultimately national. 



