11 



trees were in fine health and loaded with fine fruit. The whole of the 

 ground is underdrained and well trenched. No grass is permitted to grow 

 around or between the trees, though a crop of melons or cabbages is not 

 unfrequently raised ; the running vines of the former serving the purpose of 

 mulching, and aiding in keeping down the weeds. The trees are planted 

 in the proportion of two standards to one dwarf, both thriving well under 

 Mr. Gordon's culture. 



The Committee noticed as in full bearing and especially fine the Andrews, 

 Marie Louise, Bartlett, Seckel, Napoleon, Beurre Bosc, Buffum, Bleeker's 

 Meadow, Beurre Diel, Easter Beurre, White Doyenne, with many newer 

 but perhaps not less worthy varieties. 



Mr. Gordon makes raising pears for the market his chief business ; and 

 the Committee gained much valuable information as to the comparative 

 market value of varieties which to the amateur possess equal merit 



Leaving Mr. Gordon's the Committee rode to the gardens of Joseph 

 Breck, so well known to all as a veteran in horticulture, as well as an ama- 

 teur in all that is choice in floriculture. From the grape houses the fruit 

 had been mostly cut, only a few bunches of the later varieties hanging yet 

 upon the vines, but any deficiency in the greenhouse was amply compen- 

 sated for by the beauty of the flower garden. The beds are laid out with 

 the most perfect taste, and evergreen and deciduous trees grouped here and 

 there afford a pleasing contrast, while at the same time they serve to modify 

 the violent winds. 



Among the grass plats we noticed small beds planted with verbenas, 

 portulacca, alyssum, ageratum and other showy flowers, which by their bril- 

 liant colors afford a most pleasing variety. Among comparatively new 

 plants we remarked Eschscholtzia gracilis, Delphinium cardinale, Lobelias 

 St. Clair, Victoria, rosea and fulgens. We were also shown a thrifty young 

 specimen of the Cut-leaved birch, and many small weeping trees which 

 promise well. But it is in phloxes that at this season Mr. Breck takes the 

 greatest pride, a flower to whose popularity he has added much by the 

 dissemination of seedlings of his own production and by the importation of 

 choice varieties. Though somewhat injured by the sun many of the varie- 

 ties were in fine bloom and made a pleasing show. A seedling Tropseolum 

 is also well worthy of notice, evidently a hybrid between Lilly Smith and 

 pulcherrinum, and a decided improvement. 



After partaking of the hospitality of Mr. Breck we proceeded to the nur- 

 sery of W. C. Strong, in Newton, where we were much gratified by the 

 neatness and order which universally prevailed. Of about ninety acres Mr. 

 Strong has embraced over forty in a nursery, where we found every variety 

 of hardy shrubs and trees both evergreen and deciduous. Particularly 

 beautiful were the long lines of deciduous cypress, the light feathery foliage 

 forming, as it were, a fringe upon a dark mantle of Norway spruce. Among 

 more tender plants we noticed Clerodendron Fortunii, some new passifloras 

 and a few choice acacias. Several large frames contained many thousand? 

 of the new Rebecca grape in healthy vigorous growth. 



A ride of a couple of miles brought us to the estate of Josiah Stickney, 



