A RAIL WA V LA WN. 297 



There was little bedding stuff that required to be con- 

 stantly renewed ; only a few bits of color in the way of 

 scarlet geraniums and the like, planted as a salient point in 

 some shrub group. Almost everything was simple and 

 permanent in character. Hardy flowering shrubs were freely 

 used, because some one of them bloomed during every 

 month of spring and summei". There were small-sized trees, 

 like the purple beech, stuartia, and magnolia. A few 

 groups and single specimens of evergreens stood in a sec- 

 tion near the rockiest part of the grounds and somewhat 

 by themselves. These consisted almost entirely of dwai'f, 

 slow-growing kinds, such as the mugho pine, stone pine, 

 creeping juniper, and some of the beautiful retinosporas. 

 Peering out from the rocks and background of woods and 

 shrubbery that surrounded the spot, were white-barked 

 weeping birches, golden oaks, and other trees of equally 

 individual character. A rhododendron or two bloomed also 

 among the nearest rocks, as well as . several hardy azaleas. 

 Along the little run of water were set out various herba- 

 ceous plants that flower freely and brightly in the gi'een turf 

 nearly all summer, and come up again nextyear without being 

 renewed. Over the rocks grew climbing vines, Virginia 

 creepers, moneywort, and periwinkles, as well as sedums, 

 and many other varieties of herbaceous plants fitted for 

 such spots. A little of everything that properly pertained 

 to a lawn was here, for variety had been one of the main 

 objects sought, in order that the tedium of the waiting pas- 

 senger might be alleviated as much as possible. 



I cannot properly explain how charmingly the combina- 

 tions were contrived to thus produce, by a complete variety, 



