DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



iniiirstir fntirrs. 



Sale of Mr. Downing's Residence.— By 

 reference to an advertisement in our columns, 

 it will be seen that the beautiful residence of 

 the late Editor of the Horticulturist is to be 

 sold on the 7th of this month. It is to be re- 

 gretted that a place, upon the adornment of 

 which Mr. Downing lavished so much of his 

 art and taste, should not remain as an appropri- 

 ate heir-loom to his flimily. How could tlie 

 many friends of Mr. Downing more fittingly 

 express their appreciation of his woith. and of 

 the incalculable service he has rendered to his 

 country, than by presenting this model,, just as 

 his own hands fashioned it — the liome of his af- 

 fections, so sacred to the warm and loving heart, 

 — to his bereaved lady? AVhat better nu)iiu- 

 ment could be erected to one whose whole soul 

 was alive to beautifying and making more hap- 

 py the homes of others, than thus to secure a 

 home for one, who, by his untimely death, is 

 at once deprived of the solace of life, and forc- 

 ed to seek a new residence. 



The place is in strict keeping with the princi- 

 ples of the art he practiced, and we doubt 

 whether a more tasteful country residence can 

 be found. It is situated on the northern border 

 of the village, on an eminence which overlooks 

 the Hudson and commands a fine pro.spect in 

 every direction. The house is in the Elizabethean 

 style, and wears the quiet, unobtrusive air of a 

 gentleman's residence rather than a nobleman's 

 mansion. The grounds, comprising about six 

 acres, are all planted in the most tasteful man- 

 ner, and so disposed as to give the most pleas- 

 ing effect to the shrubbery, lawn and flowers, 

 which blend in a harmonious picture. The col- 

 lection of fruits, plants, and flowers, is very 

 choice and in the best cultivation. 



The place will undoubtedly meet with will- 

 ing and liberal purchasers; but we dread to 

 think that the residence of our friend must be 

 occupied by strangers — that henceforth the 

 doors which have been so hospitably opened to 

 all who had claims upon his attention, must 

 hereafter be closed, even upon those who most 

 dearly cherish his memory. 



A PoLisHEB NuHSERY.— The most neatly 

 kept nursery of fruit and ornamental trees that 

 we have ever seen in this country, by all odds, 

 is that of Wm Reid, of Elizabethtown. N. J. 

 It occupies about thirty acres ; and every por- 

 tion of it ajipears to be as smoothly combed and 

 brushed, as the most finished partsof other peo- 

 ple's grounds. The broad alleys used as cait 

 tracks, and for turning about the horse which 

 cultivates the rows, are smoothly covered with 

 a beautiful turf, kept closely shaven by mowing 

 once a fortnight, and the edges are kept as 

 smoothly trimmed as the walks of any orna- 

 mental garden. Even the open ditch, needed 

 for the surface water, is kept .sodded and shaven 

 with mathematical accuracy. Where the rub- 

 bish was deposited — for rubbish must accumu- 

 late from every nursery, — we cannot say, for 

 every remote corner of the grounds was preser- 

 ved in the same neat appearance. The question 

 may arise, where was his comjjost or manure 

 heap — a most necessary, but rather repulsive 

 a])pendage to every thriving nursery? Not 

 thrust away in some remote and inconvenient 

 place, as a thing not fit to be seen, but render- 

 ed an ornamental object by tlie rich masses of 

 squash vines which hung down its sides, and tlje 

 brilliant glow of petunias which covered its 

 whole upper surface ! 



Tho.se who have purchased of Wm. Reid, 

 know that he is very successful as a grower of 

 fine trees; and the excellent stock now growing 

 on his grounds, especially of dwarf and standard 

 pear trees, sliows that neatness and thrift are by 

 no means strangers. 



Summer Pears — Jesse Colbt, of Meriden, 

 N. H., has forwarded us some fine looking spe- 

 cimens of a summer pear, which he regards as 

 " the best summer pear extant — appears to do 

 much better than any foreign varieties, a good 

 bearer, vigorous grower, and hardj' — it is called 

 variously the Dorr, the Colby, the Udal, &c. 

 It does not appear to be a seedling with us. 

 We should like to know what other variety we 

 could introduce as good or better, to ripen later, 

 and as good a bearer." 



This pear, which is described in Cole's Fruit 



