2i6 A Chapter on Lawns. 



A CHAPTER OX LAWNS. 



By Joseph Breck, Ex-President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 



A FINE lawn is indispensable in landscape-gardening ; or, I might say, on 

 every patch of ornamental ground, however small it may be. Even a small 

 quarter of fine grass, without any ornamental embellishment attached, is 

 desirable for ever}' family who possess a small homestead, if for no other 

 purpose than for the children to gambol upon ; or, as the fashion is now, 

 for a croquet-ground. To have a bright spot of fine, deep verdure through 

 the hot months of the summer is always pleasing to the eye, and refreshing 

 to the senses, especially when on a larger scale, where there is room for 

 trees, shrubs, and flowers tastefully disposed by the landscape-gardener. 

 The lamented late A. J. Downing, Esq., says, " With such a lawn, and large 

 masses of trees, one has indeed the most enduring source of beauty in a 

 country residence. Perpetual neatness, freshness, and verdure in one, 

 variety and grandeur in the other, — what more does a reasonable man de- 

 sire of the beautiful about him in the country ? Must we add flowers, 

 exotic plants, fruits ? Perhaps sd ; but they are all, in an ornamental light, 

 secondary to trees and grass, where these can ba had in perfection. Only 

 one grand element is needed to make our landscape-garden complete, — ■ 

 water. A river or a lake, in which the skies and the ' tufted trees ' may 

 see themselves reflected, is ever an indispensable feature to a perfect 

 landscape." 



All these elements are to be seen in the extensive and highly-ornamental 

 grounds of H. H. Hunnewell, Esq., of Wellesley. Nothing can e.xcel the 

 beauty, deep verdure, and velvet-like appearance of his well-kept grass, set 

 off and contrasted with skilfully-arranged groups of trees, shrubs, and 

 flowers ; and, to complete the landscape, a noble lake, with irregular shores, 

 and a densely-wooded forest on the opposite side. 



The late Thomas Lee, Esq., of Brookline, Mass., prided himself on his 

 extensive and well-kept lawn, on an undulating surface, always presenting 

 a carpet of the deepest verdure even in the hot months of summer. It 

 was always a great pleasure to visit this place, and walk over this beautiful, 

 quiet spot, with the enthusiastic proprietor, and look at his rhododendrons, 



