COUNTRY SEATS NEAR BOSTON. 



little towards the highway; very imperfectly, and I would say rather unpicturesquely 

 varied with ornamental trees; but little judgment having been exercised in the original 

 distribution of the plantation. The walks about the place appeared to us to be arranged 

 without either utility, simplicity, or effect, more especially the larger carriage drives, which 

 seem to run in upon and parallel to each other, in a somewhat unceremonious manner — 

 exhibiting a very apparent deficiency of that grace and dignity which carriage roads should 

 possess in a demense of the pretensions of Mr. Cushing's. The grounds are laid out in a 

 half park, half pleasure-ground sort of style, and seem to have been done without any 

 obvious leading principle, other than that suggested by the idea of filling the ground with 

 trees, and letting them grow till they destroyed each other.* 



The principal feature of this place is the fine range of hot-houses, which are erected 

 within an enclosure surrounded by a brick wall, and finely trellised for training fruit trees 

 on its ample surface. There is a fine range of hot-houses on the southern wall, some three 

 hundred feet long, with inferior ranges on the eastern and western walls for peaches. The 

 conservatory, in the center, is a noble house, though somewhat badly arranged with 

 regard to plant growing; yet the effect is good, where the plants are nicely arranged 

 on the stages, and covered with bloom, as was the case during our visit. There are 

 many fine plants in this house, especially a noble plant of Rhododendron arhorea, 

 which we thought altogether out of place, and ought to be standing out of doors, which 

 it would do with a little protection in winter — [not in such winters as this. Ed.] The 

 plants have very much improved since we last visited this place, and many noble speci- 

 mens are now in full blossom, manifesting great skill in their culture. The gardener 

 pointed out to us a new seedling j^butilon, which we propose naming Shimminii, in honor 

 of its raiser Mr. Shimmin, the superintendent of the gardens. This Abutilon is a hybrid 

 between the A. venustum and A. Bedfordiana, and much finer than either. We never saw 

 the Bletia Tankcrvillce. flowered so splendidl}'' as here, some pots throwing up more than 

 a dozen large flower spikes. Torcnia asiatica, in large globular masses, the finest we 

 ever saw. We hope Mr. Shimmin, or his foreman Mr. Everts, will favor us with his man- 

 ner of culture and management for our gardener. 



Oakly Place, the residence of Mrs. Pratt, is near Mr. Cushing's, and presents a fine 

 specimen of a small country place, combining the picturesque and the natural — the gaj'- 

 denesque and the wild, in beautiful harmony together. From one point in the garden a 

 splendid birds-eye view of the surrounding country is obtained, studded with villages, 

 school houses and church spires — constituting the finest prospect we have seen in the 

 vicinage of Boston. The mansion house is approached by a noble avenue of trees, and 

 stands on the brow of an eminence overlooking the whole country around. A beautiful gate 

 house has just been erected, the prettiest thing of the kind hereabouts, and has a fine effect 

 on passing along the highway. The hot-houses here are in excellent order, and a summer 

 plant house was erected last year for arranging the camellias in during the summer months. 

 This novel structure is perfectly unique, having the plan and elevation of a common span 

 roofed green-house, but covered roof and sides with slats (narrow strips of boards) two 

 inches wide, diamond fashion. This is a most useful house, as it shades the plants from 

 the hot sun, yet admits sufficient air and light to enable them to mature their growth and 

 buds. Everything about this place exhibits a superior skill in culture and keeping, and 

 many things worthy of the imitation of the amateur and practical gardener. Mr. McLen- 

 nan showed us a lot of Rhododendrons which had been planted out on an open border for 



* Our correspondent hardly does justice to Belmont Place— which is certainly open to criticism in the way in which 

 it has been planted— but which, take it as a whole, including pleasure grounds, gardens, stables, stock and farm, is the 

 most complete gentleman's residence in New-England. Ed. 



