want of a better, we must again call the " fonr-in-haud" style, here literally such, 

 but on which it is not now our object to dwell. 



Some of the original planting was good for that age, but our ancestors had not 

 the same choice of trees as their descendants, and if they even knew what to plant, 

 could procure the trees only at great cost and with difficulty. Importations were 

 unknown, and transportation from the few commercial nurseries was attended with 

 too great delays to expect success. Fruit-trees were almost the only things sold 

 in those days by nurserymen. The resort then was to the trees of the vicinity, 

 and at Hampton are specimens of cedar hedges of much age that most emphati- 

 cally exhibit their want of adaptability for that purpose as a permanent ornament. 

 They have had a period of beauty, have lost their lower branches, have been cut 

 by the frost and the winds, and are to be replaced with hemlock and arbor-vitte, 

 &c. The old cedars dispersed about the terraces, and which must have had a 

 good effect when in their perfection, are now much injured, but still stately, and 

 telling of the days of their elegance when a former generation inhabited the 

 mansion. 



With this exception, the terraced garden and the flower garden are entirely 

 complete. Grass is employed for its broader walks to prevent washing, and it is 

 kept short and in the finest condition ; the whole air is that of neatness, and pre- 

 sents a scene entirely in accord with the dwelling. We could not but remember 

 the terraces at Versailles as we stooped in the shadow of long rows of full-grown 

 lemon, orange, and shaddock trees, covered with enormous fruit, blossoms, and 

 leaves, giving an expression which nothing ever will give that is not foreign to 

 the climate. The lemons on these trees are of extraordinary size ; this family of 

 exotics has a large house for its especial winter quarters. 



A beautiful Swiss cottage in fine taste greets the weary at one end ^f the garden, 

 and behind it are the extensive hothouses, graperies, and orchard-houses, from 

 which the best evidences of the success of the gardener, Peter Reed, were found 

 on the dinner-table. Mr. R. should remember, and he probably does, that the 

 Americans say Prince Albert has got "a good situation," and if a gardener can 

 congratulate himself on having one also, it should be Mr. Reed. He is sur- 

 rounded as few can hope to be. 



We could take our readers to the fine stables, and record their costly contents, 

 describe works of art, and the glowing ruddy grandchildren who embellish every- 

 thing, but we refrain. Hampton has rarely appeared in print, and one scarcely 

 knows where to lay down the pen when such fascinations are met with in such 

 profusion. 



The owners are fully impressed with the beauty of trees ; some very fine speci- 

 mens are around the mansion, and progress is marked by the conversation in 

 which the relative success of importing from France or England is knowingly 

 discussed. 



The neighborhood of Baltimore will afford us occasion for one or two more 

 sketches. 



ABIES PINSAPO. 



The pleasure-grounds at Ribston, England, which are extensive, varied, and 

 very beautiful, contain many fine specimens of trees and shrubs ; the evergreens 

 are particularly fine. There are a great many handsome promising young Coni- 

 fers about the ground, and among them some very fine young trees of Cedrus 

 Deodara, also two very handsome young specimens of Abies Pinsapo — one about 

 eight, and the other about twelve feet high ; both are perfect gems, of the general 



