HOME OF A. J. DOWNING. 



ing land between the water and the hills, with its cluslorod houses thick in one place 

 but scattered on the outskirts, with here and there a larger house or stately mansion 



"Bosomed higli in tufted trees," 



and gladdening the eye with its hints of home and hospitality amid the universal 

 tender green. Continuing on this path, it becomes narrower, and leads through tlie 

 shrubbery to the carriage road, which widens at the north end of the house sufficiently 

 to admit of a turn, and then, resuming its original width, leads to the rear of the 

 building and to the fruit orchard, hidden from the view by the espalier with its leafy 

 curtain of nectarine and peach. Extending from the western side of the house we see 

 the office, giving to the structure a pleasing irregularity, and having on the south the 

 little Entrance Porch which is before shown in our vignette. 



The orchard contained Mr. Downixg's choice fruit — principally plums, nec- 

 tarines, and peaches, with some of the finer sorts of pears. In other parts of 

 the garden there were fine beds of strawberries — many sorts, and each in its 



perfection ; raspberries also were 

 in great abundance and beauty, 

 together with fine apples and, 

 as we have seen, great store 

 of grapes. At the end of the 

 orchard the carriaije road ajjain 

 widens, and at the left a narrow 

 path running in front of the green- 

 house, connects the two ends of 

 this road with each other. Over 

 this path is trained the Wistaria 

 Vine on a rustic trellis, and 

 through it you get a lovely pic- 

 ture of the river and the Fishkiil 

 mountains circled by the leafy 

 and luxuriant climber for a frame. 

 I have thus led the reader through the garden, and endeavored to convey to him 

 some idea of a place which can not long remain as the owner left it, and which he 

 died without carrying to perfection. It is not an extensive place ; it had no great 

 vinery, no mammoth hot-house nor conservatory ; there is no aviary, no fountain, no 

 Victoria Kegia, no pinery, no palm-house. In the garden one looks in vain for a 

 complete collection of any one plant. Mr. Downing had no passion for evergreens; 

 no absorbing desire to include in his garden's attractions every species of heath, or 

 rose, or dahlia. In the house there are no rare paintings, no marbles, no cabinets of 

 gems, no portfolios of rare engravings, no shelves laden with costly books. If Mr. 

 Dow^ning's fortune did not warrant this, no less did his taste forbid his running to 

 extremes of any kind. His garden is small indeed ; but it had more beauty of (^ 

 arrangement, more beauty of natural scenery, artistically made a part of the 



WISTAllIA TINK 



