Historical Sketches 9 



in this latitude in classes, according to their height, etc., 

 and published a short treatise on the superior claims of the 

 natural, over the formal or geometric style of laying out 

 grounds. In short, we consider AI. Parmentier's labors and 

 examples as having effected, directly, far more for land- 

 scape gardening in America, than those of any other indi- 

 vidual whatever. 



The introduction of tasteful gardening in this country is, 

 of course, of a very recent date. But so long ago as from 

 25 to 50 years, there were several country residences highly 

 remarkable for extent, elegance of arrangement, and the 

 highest order and keeping. Among these, we desire espe- 

 cially to record here the celebrated seats of Chancellor 

 Livingston, Wm. Hamilton, Esq., Theodore Lyman, Esq., 

 and Judge Peters. 



Woodlands, the seat of the Hamilton family, near Phila- 

 delphia, was, so long ago as 1805, highly celebrated for its 

 gardening beauties. The refined taste and the wealth of 

 its accomplished owner, were freely lavished in its improve- 

 ment and embellishment; and at a time when the introduc- 

 tion of rare exotics was attended with a vast deal of risk and 

 trouble, the extensive green-houses and orangeries of this 

 seat contained all the richest treasures of the exotic flora, 

 and among other excellent gardeners employed, was the 

 distinguished botanist Pursh, whose enthusiastic taste in 

 his favorite science was promoted and aided by Mr. Ham- 

 ilton. The extensive pleasure grounds were judiciously 

 planted, singly and in groups, with a great variety of the 

 finest species of trees. The attention of the visitor to this 

 place is now arrested by two very large specimens of that 

 curious tree, the Japanese Ginko (Salisburia), 60 or 70 feet 

 high, perhaps the finest in Europe or America, by the noble 

 magnolias, and the rich park-like appearance of some of 

 the plantations of the finest native and foreign oaks. From 

 the recent unhealthiness of this portion of the Schuylkill, 

 Woodlands has fallen into decay, but there can be no 

 question that it was, for a long time, the most tasteful and 

 beautiful residence in America. 



