REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS 

 FOR THE YEAR 1916. 



By the Secretary. 



Two visits only have been made by the Committee on Gardens 

 during the year 1916. The curtailment of the Schedule of Prizes 

 may have been the cause for the diminvition of interest in this 

 department of the Society's work. This committee was established 

 early in the Society's history and has exerted a widespread and 

 important influence in promoting the objects for which it was 

 established. A revival of interest is expected during the coming 

 year when the Schedule is to be rearranged and some of the old- 

 time features which have proved so successful in the past are 

 restored. 



E. K. Butler's Estate at Jamaica Plain. 



On June 5 the committee was invited to visit the estate of Mr. 

 E. K. Butler at Jamaica Plain. This is a suburban estate of one 

 and one-half acres liberally and tastefully planted with a great 

 variety of ornamental trees and shrubs. Many fine specimens of 

 coniferous and deciduous trees are included in the grounds or around 

 the borders and on the day of the visit the rhododendrons and 

 azaleas were in brilliant bloom. 



A feature of the estate and one in which Mr. Butler is especially 

 interested is liis rose garden which, while not in flower at the time 

 of the visit, gave evidence of what it would develop a few weeks 

 later. The collection of other flowering plants as also the vegetable 

 garden showed an economic utilization of the grounds. 



The estate was awarded the Special Prize of $50.00 for an estate 

 in Massachusetts of not more than three acres nor less than one acre 

 that shows the best arrangement in planting and that is kept in 

 the best order. 



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