Holm Lea, noted for its open park -like effects 



in passing the historical Washington elm. 



The two large cemeteries of Boston are 



not without their interest at this time. 



On the west is Mt, Auburn, which was 



At Wellesley is Mr. Hunnewell's remarkable topiary work 



Mrs. H. L. Higginson (famous for its seaside 

 rockeries), Judge W. H. Moore, Mrs. E. C. 

 Swift; and at Marblehead Neck, that of 

 Chas. W. Parker. 



The historical old-time gardens of Salem 

 were unfortunately, to a large extent, 

 injured by the recent calamitous lire in 

 that town. Here, however, was Governor 

 Endicott's estate, interesting on account 

 of its old-time associations; and nearby 

 is the new estate in Topsfield of Mr. T. 

 Emerson Proctor, a modern country estate 

 and arboretum, rock garden, etc. 



Rock gardening may also be seen at the 



IN AND ABOUT BOSTON 



CRITICAL VISITOR TO THE CONVEN- 

 AND THE LESSON TO BE LEARNED 



closely concerned with the beginnings of 

 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 

 Indeed, the two organizations were one at 

 the start, and it is the ceme- 

 tery that made possible the 

 great influence that this So- 

 ciety has exercised. To the 

 south of Boston is Forest 

 Hills Cemetery, of importance 

 as being the first example of 

 the lawn, or park, cemetery 

 in this country. 



The best example of topiary 

 work to be seen in America 

 is on the Hunnewell Estate 

 at Wellesley. Apart from this, 

 however, the collections of 

 fine evergreens and rhododen- 

 drons, which give the place 

 its character, have a fame all 

 their own. The work stands 

 as an instructive example of 

 what may be accomplished 

 in what is commonly regarded 

 as an impossible waste — the 

 tract was so considered when 

 the work was begun more than 

 three quarters of a century ago. 



Owing to the naturally favorable con- 

 ditions, the entire shore line, both up and 

 down the coast from Boston, has been devel- 

 oped into a series of finely gardened estates, 

 more particularly along the North Shore, 

 such as at Manchester. Some of the more 

 noteworthy are the gardens of Mrs. Evans, 

 Mr. H. C. Frick, W. S. and J. T. Spaulding, 



Ipswich garden of Mr. George E. Barnard, 

 adjoining Topsfield. The best example of 

 wild gardening in the neighborhood is at 



One of the many old-time gardens around Boston — the Whipple estate at Salem 



Dedham, in the gardens of General Stephen 

 M. Weld. Other neighboring regions where 

 fine gardens exist are in Lancaster, Whit- 

 insville and like nearby towns. 



Commercial establishments, such as 

 supply the wants of other large cities, will 

 naturally be found in the environs of 

 Boston, but there are also one or two 



15 



The House of Seven Gables" at Salem 



places which have a particular appeal to 

 the general plant lover. From the Woods 

 Hole establishment of M. H. Walsh came 

 the beginnings of that great race of rambler 

 roses which have become so dominant a 

 characteristic of American gardens. At 

 Natick, near Wellesley, are the Waban 

 Conservatories, where were originated the 

 Hadley, Wellesley, and Mrs. Charles Rus- 

 sell roses. This establishment was also 

 the first one to adopt the modern very 

 large greenhouse for commercial plant 

 growing. The development of the sweet 

 pea as a cut flower under glass has been 

 very largely due to the work of Mr. Wil- 

 liam Sim, at Cliftondale; and in the 

 establishment of Mr. Thomas Roland, at 

 Nahant, may be found a large 

 collection of acacias and other 

 hard - wooded plants which 

 seem to suggest a revival of 

 interest in this formerly very 

 popular class of material. 



And as looking into the 

 future possibilities of plants 

 that have come to us from 

 China, mention may be made 

 of the nurseries of R. & J. 

 Farquhar at Dedham and 

 Roslindale, where many of the 

 introductions of Mr. E. H. 

 Wilson are being propagated 

 extensively. The modern de- 

 velopment of the florist's carna- 

 tion is also associated with 

 this region, as it was Mr. Peter 

 Fisher of Ellis who raised the 

 now famous Mrs. T. W. Law- 

 son and others of that type 

 that followed. 



An illustration of the mod- 

 ern great developments in com- 

 mercial horticulture may be seen in Tracy's" 

 gladiolus farm at Wenham. The environs 

 of Boston are studded with large establish- 

 ments devoted to the commercial produc- 

 tion of plants. And not the least important 

 posession of Boston is the extensive horticul- 

 tural library in the home of the Mass. Horti- 

 cultural Society in Horticultural Hall. 



