104 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and glaring arrangements of color, have been so extensive!}' 

 introduced by some gardeners, at the fashionable resorts, and to 

 a large extent on pretentious summer estates, that people natur- 

 ally go back for relief from such arrangements to the old-fash- 

 ioned garden. Apart from the set arrangement and blaze of color, 

 there is always a suggestion of labor and expense connected with 

 the development of such effects. The growth of the floral dis- 

 play in Washington Park has been gradual, as the facilities for 

 the propagation of plants, and the funds of the park commission 

 have warranted. Some 3'ears, the effects have excelled those 

 of previous ones, and then again there has been an apparent 

 retrograde movement, and the display has not been especially 

 attractive. The yearly maintenance has given impetus to, or 

 retarded, the floral display in a ratio proportionate with its 

 magnitude. 



The first effort made in floral planting in Washington Park was 

 soon after the appointment of the late Robert L. Johnson as 

 park commissioner and chairman of the planting committee. 

 Not having at that time a propagating house of sufficient size, 

 a small one was constructed on the Taylor mansion grounds, and 

 for two or three years with this little house and the assistance 

 of adjacent hot-bed frames, the gardener was enabled to propa- 

 gate sufficient plants to make a creditable displa}'. It was not, 

 however, possible to propagate other than soft-wooded plants for 

 bedding purposes, and not until the purchase, by the board of 

 park commissioners, of the Taylor mansion grounds, and the 

 necessary removal and construction of the outbuildings and 

 propagating houses to the present site on the New Scotland plank 

 road, was it possible to propagate and maintain the more desira- 

 ble class of plants now exhibited at the Willett street entrance 

 of the park. The effort has been made this season to place 

 all the desirable greenhouse plants that will stand the exposure, 

 in the open grounds and to secure effects somewhat tropical in 

 character, the palms being placed along the shady walk at 

 Willett street, and such color and leaf effects, by the introduction 

 of several varieties of alternautheras in masses of color, relieved 

 by other beds of agaves, echeverias, achyrauthes, centaureas, 

 and geraniums. 



The two large palms, placed in circular beds, surrounded at 

 the base by a variety of ornamental plants, and terminating at 



