COUNTRY SEATS NEAR BOSTON. 



extensive cultivation as a market pear, and as one to make up a variety in a circle of sub 

 stantial and valuable house-keeping fruits. 



There is yet another pear, which, in naming it, I shall probably be laughed at by some 

 of my pomological neighbors, who are sometimes wise beyond what is written. It is the 

 Orange Bcrgamot of Coxe, and described by that author in his Work on Fruits. This 

 pear was early introduced here as the "Orange Pear," either by the late William Hodge, 

 or his brother Benjamin, the proprietor of the " Buffalo Nursery," who now occasionally 

 makes himself merry at its expense; yet I doubt whether he ever did the state better ser- 

 vice, than when propagating and disseminating this pear for many years, until he Jancied 

 he knew better. There are many trees of this variety scattered in the neighborhood of 

 Buffalo. Its qualities are these: The tree is very thrifty in growth, and hardy as a white 

 oak, with a handsome upright head, bearing large crops every year. I have never known 

 it to be struck with the blight, although it may not escape that scourge. The fruit is of 

 medium size, remarkably fair and uniform in appearance, and in shape somewhat like the 

 Brown Beurre. Its color, when ripe, is that of a rich lemon. Its flesh is too dry for a 

 choice eating pear, although its flavor is good. Its great excellence is for baking and pre- 

 serving; and for these it is altogether the best pear I ever have seen. I have two trees, 

 which I found on my grounds when I purchased them, perhaps nowtwenty-flve years old. 

 It comes into baking early in September, and will last until late in October, being in bak- 

 ing five or six weeks. For preserving, I have seen no pear which holds its consistency so 

 well, absorbs sugar so perfectly, imparts a finer flavor of itself, and so delicate in its color 

 and appearance. We have tried other pears, and of the best dessert varieties, for this 

 purpose, by its side, and the Orange has exceeded them all in its preserving qualities. 

 Repeated juries of ladies have settled this question. For preserving and baking, I shall 

 propagate it just as long as I can, satisfied that no other which I can grow will equal it for 

 these purposes. I showed this pear at the Pomological Convention in Buffalo, in 1848. I 

 explained its good qualities, and tried all my small eloquence to get it adopted for what it 

 was. But after considerable discussion, the Doctors there assembled — Col. Hodge with 

 the rest — thrust my unfortunate pear under the table, and •' rejected it without a count." 

 I picked the bantling up from " the rabble rout" of outcasts among which it was con- 

 signed, put it carefully in my pocket, and walked out of the convention with feelings akin 

 to those of the tearful damsel in Moore's Lalla Roohk: 



" I never nursed a dear Gazelle 

 To cheer me with its soft dark eye, 

 But when it came to know me well, 

 And love me, it was sure to die 1" 



I have since grafted several of my orchard trees with the Orange Pear. 



Lem'is F. Allen. 



Black Rock, January, 1852. 



NOTES ON GARDENS AND COUNTRY SEATS NEAR BOSTON. 



BY HORTICOLA, BOSTON 



Belmont Place, the residence of J. P. Cushing, Esq., Watertown. This is one of 

 the most noted places in this neighborhood, remarkable especially for its completeness in 

 departments, and upon the whole it is a place worthy of something more than a passing 

 The grounds around the mansion, display not much variety of surface, sloping a 



