COUNTRY SEATS NEAR BOSTON. 



a number of years, which looked well, and were quite covered with flower buds. This 

 we consider quite a triumph in this Borealean climate. 



The residence of Mr. Bigelow, near Brighton, is a prettily situated spot, nestling snug- 

 ly on the sunny slope of a hill-side. Here we found a pretty good range of hot-houses, 

 consisting of two graperies, with a small green-house in the center; the latter rather 

 small, badly contrived, but containing a nice assortment of green-house plants. We found 

 here the finest specimens of Ericas that we have yet seen around Boston. The £. trans- 

 parens and metulcRflora bicolor, were splendid, and some fine large specimens of the soft 

 wooded kinds. How seldom we see a good Erica, and how seldom any at all, except the 

 few very common ones grown by florists to produce cut flowers. Such plants as those of 

 Mr. Bigelow 's, would almost tempt one to build a house for Ericas alone, for surely no 

 tribe of plants in the whole vegetable kingdom better deserves one. This place was under 

 the care of Mr. Brims, a good gardener, and one who apparently prides himself in neat- 

 ness — for what is something rare just now, every pot was as clean as a dinner plate, and 

 the whole place showed the utmost care and attention on the part of the gardener. This 

 place is noted for grapes, and from the appearance of the vines, they will satisfy the ex- 

 pectations which we have formed of them, and maintain the high reputation they have for- 

 merly possessed. 



7%e residence of Jonathan French, Esq., Roxbury, is a charming little place. The 

 grounds possess no natural advantages, and are almost entirely dependent on art for their 

 interest and beauty. The surface at one time was full of ledges, so much so that scarcely 

 a tree could be planted till a hole had been blasted for it with powder. Yet the grounds 

 are now well laid out, and judiciously planted. A fine green-house has been built lately, 

 the site of which, we were informed, was cut out of the solid rock. This house is filled 

 with a fine collection of plants, including some splendid Camellias, Ericas, Epacris, Aza- 

 leas, Geraniums, Roses, &c., kept in excellent order by the gardener, Mr. Walsh, to whom 

 much credit is due for the present condition of the place, and the healthiness and vigor of 

 the plants and shrubs. On a level plateau between the green-house and the highway, Mr. 

 Walsh has laid out a very pretty flower garden, with gravel walks edged with box, which, 

 when filled with a great variety of summer flowering plants, forms a beautiful object in 

 the grounds. 



There are few places in this neighborhood where so much has been done in a small space 

 as here, and fewer still, where everything is kept in such good order. We cannot omit to 

 mention, that the finest roses which have been grown in this part of the country, have been 

 produced at this place, by Mr. Walsh, who grows them in a pit heated by hot-water pipes, 

 by which he can turn on or take off heat, at pleasure; this is a most admirable method, 

 and one that we hope to see more extensively adopted for the culture of plants in winter, 

 as well as in forcing cucumbers, and other early crops in spring, by which the expense and 

 labor, as well as precariousness of dung-beds, are entirely obviated. We left this pretty 

 little place much pleased with our call, and highly delighted with the science, skill, and 

 neatness, which characterised everything about it, and will return with pleasure to see its 

 beauties under more favorable circumstances. 



During our ramble we visited a considerable number of other places, which I shall com- 

 municate at some early opportunity Horticola. 



Boston, Feb. 8, 1S.52. 



