284 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



highway. Particularly noticeable are elegant specimens of Abies 

 concolor, A. D iiKjlasii, A. orientalis, A. Nordmanniana, and Plcea 

 2ningens of good form and rich coloring. A commendable feature, 

 especially in the case of the trees, is that they have not been 

 allowed to grow so closely together as to spoil each other, but 

 much time and labor are bestowed every year in pruning and 

 thinning out the trees and shrubs. Every effort is made to grow 

 good specimens of the rarer and choicer varieties of evergreens, 

 which in the near future will be a splendid feature of the place. 

 Perhaps the most enjoyable spot is the piazza of the house, where 

 the most varied and extended views are obtained. In the dis- 

 tance, looking in one direction, we see a train of cars wending its 

 way through meadow and woods ; in another direction we see 

 cattle grazing in the distance — here a stretch of meadow, and again 

 large tracts of woodland and meadow, all beyond the water front. 

 Nearer, or between the house and the water front, small groups 

 of trees and single specimens have been planted which even now, 

 while yet young, add much to the charm and attractiveness of 

 the landscape, and when they shall have attained a full growth 

 the beauty of the views will be greatly enhanced. In the care 

 and development of the estate much credit is due for the good 

 condition of everything to the faithful and persistent labors of 

 Alexander McKay, Mr. Nevins's gardener, who is deeply interested 

 in the development of the estate ; we wish we could record more 

 such instances of confidence between employer and employee. 

 Your Committee are unanimous in their conclusion that this estate 

 is one of the finest we have visited in point of natural views and 

 unexcelled scenery. The judicious manner in which it is managed 

 and developed has assisted in bringing us to this conclusion. AVe 

 also desire to record our iiearty appreciation of the very cordial 

 reception given us personally by Mr. Kevins. His statement in 

 regard to his estate is as follows : 



Statement of Mr. Kevins. 



Framingham, September, 1896. 



I made my first purchase of land here in ^he spring of 1871. 



The farm consisted of one liundred and fifty-six acres, lying on 



both sides of the Sudbury River, and bounded on the south for 



nearly a mile by the Boston and Albany Railroad, and on the 



