244 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



directly into the original woodland and the contrast between the 

 architectural and the natural is very pronounced. 



The general scheme pervading the whole estate is so original and 

 striking that the committee will await with much interest the com- 

 pletion of Mr. Weeks' plans for its further embellishment. 



Mrs. Courtland Hoppin's Estate at Pomfret, Coxx. 



By invitation of Mrs. Courtland Hoppin the committee was 

 privileged on August 6 to inspect her beautiful residence " Court- 

 lands" at Pomfret Center, Connecticut. 



The visiting party was met at the railway station by the superin- 

 tendent and head gardener of the estate, Robert Rust, and by him 

 shown over the grounds. The first place visited was the superin- 

 tendent's house on the front steps of which, apparently awaiting 

 with interest the committee's appearance, was the finest lot of "seed- 

 lings " the members had ever seen on any estate : four girls and one 

 boy, ranging from three to nine years, sat on a step and presented a 

 picture worthy of note even in the Society's annals. 



The next place visited was the vegetable garden which was found 

 in fine condition, considering the dry season. It comprised about 

 two acres and the walks were of gravel with a grass border of a foot 

 in width. The greater portion of the beds were separated from one 

 another by a finely trimmed hedge of the California privet. 



There were also here some .Japanese plum trees, seven to eight 

 feet high, bearing an extraordinary crop. The raspberry and 

 gooseberry bushes looked very thrifty and the strawberry beds 

 were well taken care of and showed evidence of a heavy crop. This 

 garden met the approbation of every member of the committee. 



The greenhouses were then inspected and were found in excellent 

 condition. There were rose houses, carnation houses, and houses 

 for palms, ferns, and the various other foliage plants usually grown. 



A pit formerly used for violets had been transformed into a 

 melon house and showed a fine display of various varieties of this 

 fruit. The chrysanthemum house was also very promising, and a 

 bench of gloxinias was especially fine. There was also a pit used 

 for winter storage of palms, bays, and English ivys, and in connec- 



