100 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Arboriculture. I feel that I cannot say too much of the Arbore- 

 tum and its immense value ; I wish I could be heard all over the 

 land, and I would speak of its value and benefits more loudly 

 every time. I do not believe one-tenth part of those interested in 

 horticulture begin to appreciate the value of the Arboretum. Go 

 there more if you would know the wealth of beauty awaiting you 

 there. We have in Boston, in our Park S3'stem, much to be proud 

 of; and with such men as Frederick Law Olmstead, who as a 

 landscape artist has no equal ; Charles S. Sargent, well known to 

 you all ; and our friend Jackson Dawson, I am sure that time only 

 is needed to perfect the system so admirabh' planned, and to be 

 executed by them, and when the plan is perfected they will 

 become the best known parks in America. 



"Washington Park, Albany. In our visits this year at differ- 

 ent places, finding a little time at our disposal, at the close of one 

 day, we drove to "Washington Park, in Albany, and though there 

 onl}' a short time, we were so favorably impressed with what we 

 saw that I immediately opened a correspondence with the Super- 

 intendent, "William S. Egerton, for information in regard to it. 

 Since the reading of the paper at the last meeting of the Society 

 of American Florists, in Buffalo, by Mr. McMillan, Superintend- 

 ent of the parks there, j'ou have perhaps read the criticisms on 

 that paper. Mr. McMillan took strong ground in advocacy of a 

 system adopted in Buffalo, which admits of comparatively no 

 flowers for ornamentation in their park, and, if my memory serves 

 me rightly, in September there were none of any sort to be seen, 

 in driving through the park. I must confess to great disappoint- 

 ment in this respect. I think that, in a proper way and in suita- 

 ble places, they could be introduced to good advantage, and that 

 the attractiveness of the large park would thus be greatly 

 enhanced. But be that as it may, we must give Mr. McMillan 

 the credit of being able to present his honest convictions in such 

 a manner as to command respect for them. 



But we must return to Washington Park, which is situated a 

 short distance back of the Capitol, and contains ninety acres of 

 land with three miles of avenues, six miles of walks, and a lake of 

 six acres. It is approached from State Street and Madison Avenue 

 on the east, and from Lexington Street on the south. The park 

 and garden appeared so well combined that I have obtained from 

 the Superintendent his reasons for laying it out in this way. He 

 (writes as follows : 



