Varied Gardens Fair 67 
by the enclosing walls as the sense of sight, such a 
garden were a city paradise. 
There is scant regularity in shape in Salem gar- 
dens ; there is no search for exact dimensions. 
Little narrow strips of flower beds run down from 
the main garden in any direction or at any angle 
where the fortunate owner can buy a few feet of 
land. Salem gardens do not change with the 
whims of fancy, either in the shape or the plant- 
ing. A few new flowers find place there, such as 
the Anemone Japonica and the Japanese shrubs; 
for they are akin in flower sentiment, and consort 
well with the old inhabitants. There are many 
choice flowers and fruits in these gardens. In the 
garden of the Manning homestead (opposite page 
1 1 2) grows a flourishing Fig tree, and other rare 
fruits ; for fifty years ago this garden was known as 
the Pomological Garden. It is fitting it should be 
the home of two Robert Mannings — both well- 
known names in the history of horticulture in Massa- 
chusetts. 
The homely back yard of an old house will often 
possess a trim and blooming flower border cutting 
off the close approach of the vegetable beds (see 
opposite page 66). These back yards, with the 
covered Grape arbors, the old pumps, and bricked 
paths, are cheerful, wholesome places, generally of 
spotless cleanliness and weedless flower beds. I 
know one such back yard where the pump was the 
first one set in the town, and children were taken 
there from a distance to see the wondrous sight. 
Why are all the old appliances for raising water so 
