REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS FOR 

 THE YEAR 1908. 



BY CHARLES W. PARKER, CHAIRMAN. 



The Committee on Gardens of the Massachusetts Horticukural 

 Society is pleased to report an increased interest during the present 

 year in this department of the Society's work. Eleven entries 

 for the prizes offered have been received, and the committee has 

 made fourteen visits during the season to various estates and 

 gardens which are reported upon as follows: 



Mrs. James McKissock's Garden at West Newton. 



The first visit of the season was made jNIay 29 to inspect the 

 collection of tree peonies on the grounds of Mrs. James McKissock 

 at West Newton. This estate of about 19000 square feet was 

 entered for the prizes offered by the Society for the best garden of 

 summer or fall-flowering plants and for the best peony garden. 



On the occasion of this visit the tree peonies, comprising about a 

 dozen varieties, were in handsome flower and were well worthy a 

 visit. Among the more noticeable plants were the Queen Alex- 

 andra, white tinted with pink; Mme. Stewart, Reine Elizabeth, 

 and Jean d' Arc, pink; and the George Sand, a very double and 

 floriferous plant. They had been planted about six years and 

 were in a flourishing condition, showing interested care and skill 

 in their cultivation. 



In addition to these plants the estate contained an interesting 

 rockery and numerous specimen trees and shrubs, among which 

 were especially noted in passing the variegated-leaved tulip tree 

 and the pink Cornus florida, the latter in fine flower. 



On June 11 the committee inspected Mrs. McKissock's collection 

 of herbaceous peonies which were in the perfection of bloom. 

 This peony garden is among the most notable private gardens 

 devoted to the culture of this flower in the vicinity of Boston. 



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