AMONG THE ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS. 135 



were both filled and arranged in the finest order for pleasing effect, and many 

 of the rarest exotics were here found in the greatest perfection. Among the 

 specimens noticed were a fine collection of palms, many of them grown from 

 seed by the skillful proprietor, who, by the way, is at once architect, gardenerj 

 and fiorist combined. None of the plants have had the care for a day of a pro- 

 fessional florist. There were Euphorbias, Sj^lendens and Jacquinifflora, Hoyas, 

 ten varieties of Caladiums, Cyperus, etc. Several fine orchids w^ere hanging 

 from the walls. Tree Ferns in variety. Two fine specimens of Feronia, 

 Gigantea and Verscliaffeltii, Olocaceas, Macrohibra, and Zebrina, Pepperonias, 

 Bananas. I also noticed a fine plant of Cissus. Among the Ferns, two fine 

 specimens, AspUnium and Alatum, were particularly attractive. There were 

 also Crotons in variety; Pancratums, Aspidistras, Viucas, Cupheas, Tradescan- 

 tias, etc., in variety too great to be mentioned here ; in fact, but few of our 

 largest commercial plant-houses can boast of a greater variety or rarer specimens 

 of exotic plants than were found in these unpretending, cozy little plant houses 

 of S. 0. Knapp of Jackson. Many persons of comparatively large incomes have 

 neglected adding these luxuries to their surroundings, in consequence of the 

 great expense supposed to be necessary to put and maintain them on a scale 

 with the other requisites of a well-ordered establishment. Most people, should 

 they consult an architect for plan of house, would hardly get through with 

 him with less perhaps than one or two thousand dollars for building, and 

 then the gardener would be likely to add as much more, and before they would 

 be through with these professional gentlemen they would find themselves danc- 

 ing to no trifling music in the matter of dollars and cents expended. But here 

 is a gentleman who has demonstrated that all these interesting and beautiful 

 adornments may be had on a scale grand enough to satisfy the most fastidious, 

 for the outlay of only a few hundred dollars. I doubt very much if these two 

 tasty houses, with appurtenances and care of the same to the present time, have 

 cost the owner in dollars and cents to exceed the sum of $400. The suburban 

 grounds were no less interesting; enough of the native trees — which were 

 mostly oak and hickory — were left remaining to give the grounds a decidedly 

 park-like appearance. Many ornamental trees and shrubs have been added 

 from time to time as taste and variety seemed to require to make up the finish. 

 Among them were noticed the common sweet and horse chestnuts, with 

 evergreens in great variety. A beautiful grotto of rock- work, wherein was 

 playing an elegant fountain, of unique design was especially conspicuous. 

 Curious vases, and plant stands of pottery of rare design, filled with appropriate 

 plants, were interspersed throughout the ground — all combining to make up 

 the design in full, and render this charming place, without an exception, the 

 most delightful " abiding place for man" that our beautiful Peninsular State 

 can boast. Nothing is lacking here but the charming scenery and distant land- 

 scape, so often met with among the highlands of the Hudson, to render this 

 place equally attractive to the beholder. Indeed, to a person long familiar, as 

 the writer has been, with many of those charming retreats, he could not help 

 but recognize a striking resemblance. 



Apart, and enclosed by a neatly trimmed arbor vitffi hedge, was found a grand 

 display of hardy flowering plants. In looking over this gorgeous collection one 

 would be led to conclude that Vick and Henderson and Briggs and Bliss 

 had chosen this for a tilting ground for the smiles of the goddess Flora, and 

 each proclaimed a victor without even stain upon their knightly escutcheons. 

 But " temjjusfugit," we are admonished. No more time can be spared here, 



