90 Frederick Law Olmsted 



I spent only about one month on the Continent, mostly 

 Germany, where I much enjoyed the social out-door life, and 

 the frequent approaches to realizations of your ideal village. 

 The custom of taking meals in the gardens or summer houses 

 is very common ; and it seemed to me the middle classes at 

 least lived in the open air more than even the English; nor 

 did it seem to me, as is frequently asserted, that their habits 

 in these respects injured the family influence, or made Home 

 any less homelike and lovable, but the contrary. 



I saw the best parts of England, spending two months 

 travelling through it on foot, seeing the country of course to 

 great advantage, so that I feel as if I had not merely seen the 

 rural character, but lived in it, and made it a part of me. I 

 was then two months in Ireland and Scotland. 



I wish you would when convenient do us (your disciples 

 in Horticulture) the favor to explain distinctly the terms 

 used to describe the different ways of growing pears, etc. I 

 think your correspondents of the Horticulturist have gener- 

 ally used the term Standard to designate pears grown on 

 pear stock only, and Dwarf for those on Quince or Thorn. 

 But in Europe does not Dwarf mean a low ill-shapen tree, or 

 a maiden tree that has lost its leader, and is only suitable for 

 walls? ... I was disappointed at not finding the pear 

 grown on quince more abroad. Even at Paris I saw but few 

 in open culture. Those at the Jardin des Plantes and at the 

 Luxembourg are splendid full grown trees, and even this 

 bad season were as full as could be desired of fruit. At Ver- 

 sailles they were mostly on trellis or walls — those en quenou- 

 ille invariably looked unhealthy. 



I saw your Fruits of America in France and England and 

 Scotland ; always shown as something for me to be proud of 

 as your countryman. 



Yours Respectfully, 



Fred. Law Olmsted. 



Mr. A. J. Downing. 



