8 



absence of straight lines, the usual stiff, unseemly appearance being thus 

 entirely avoided. Among the flowers, fine beds of Vinca alba and rosea 

 deserve special notice. 



In the fruit garden the dwarf apple trees appeared far better than any 

 the Committee had seen elsewhere ; many of the trees being well filled 

 with fruit. The greenhouses are three in number ; one used as a peach 

 house, connected with which is a pit for vegetables ; the two others being 

 appropriated exclusively to grapes. 



The season of peaches being almost past, we only found two trees from 

 which the fruit had not been gathered ; the growth of all the trees was 

 vigorous and the trees healthy. The vegetable house or pit has, during the 

 present season, been used entirely for forcing cucumbers ; and though the 

 vines were, as we were assured by the gardener, long past their prime, yet 

 the abundant fruit still clinging to them gave evidence of a flow of sap 

 which would have done credit to younger vines. The two other graperies 

 are each sixty feet long by twenty wide ; one of these is divided by a glass 

 partition into two equal portions, in order to force the vines at different 

 periods. The principal grapes grown are the Muscat in variety, Ham- 

 burghs, Frontignans, White Chasselas, and Black Prince ; the size of the 

 berries was good, and their flavor excellent ; the vines were in fine condi- 

 tion, being free from disease, with a clear rich foliage. Much credit is due 

 to Mr. Walsh, gardener to Mr. Holbrook, for the skill and attention every- 

 where exhibited, and for the neatness and artistic merit of the flower gar- 

 den, and the Committee cannot but think that were the same care bestowed 

 on flowers in general, gardening could not fail to acquire a new charm. 



At five o'clock the Committee took leave of Mr. Holbrook, much pleased 

 with their visit, and indebted for the kind hospitality afforded them during 

 their stay. 



On Tuesday and Wednesday, August 25th and 26th, the Secretary, in 

 company with another gentleman of the Committee, made visits to the fol- 

 lowing places visited by the Committee in July. 



A pleasant ride brought us to the garden of Galvin & Hogan in Somer- 

 ville, where the growth of the trees and their healthy appearance gave good 

 evidence of a rich and well cultivated soil. The flower garden was not in 

 as fine condition as we had been led to expect, though the heavy rains of 

 the preceding fortnight were mainly the cause of the disorder. The pears 

 were in good bearing, especially the Easter Beurre, Louise bonne de Jersey, 

 Bartlett and Duchess d'Angouleme ; while a heavy crop of tomatoes gave 

 evidence that in vegetables Somerville is not at all behind the neighboring 

 towns. As a matter of course there was but little of interest in the flower 

 houses at this season, all the plants being arranged out of doors ; but an 

 examination of the camellias, ericas, epacris and azaleas, was fully satisfac- 

 tory, and afforded proof of the care which produced such abundance of 

 promising buds and rich luxuriance of foliage. 



By a walk of half an hour we reached the well known establishment of 

 the Messrs. Hovey, so often described in the reports of the Garden Commit- 

 tee. The pears were in full beauty and afforded no evidence of lack of 



