Historical Sketches 19 



their trunks and branches grand and majestic, their heads 

 full of breadth and grandeur of outline. 



These oaks, distributed over a nearly level surface, with 

 the trees disposed either singly or in the finest groups, as 

 if most tastefully planted centuries ago, are solely the work 

 of nature; and yet so entirely is the whole like the grandest 

 planted park, that it is difficult to believe that all is not the 

 work of some master of art, and intended for the accom- 

 paniment of a magnificent residence. Some of the trees 

 are five or six hundred years old. 



In Connecticut, Monte Video, the seat of Daniel Wads- 

 worth, Esq., near Hartford, is worthy of commendation, as 

 it evinces a good deal of beauty in its grounds, and is one 

 of the most tasteful in the state. The residence of James 

 Hillhouse, Esq., near New Haven, is a pleasing specimen 

 of the simplest kind of Landscape Gardening, where grace- 

 ful forms of trees, and a gently sloping surface of grass, are 

 the principal features. The villa of Mr. Whitney near New 

 Haven, is one of the most tastefully managed in the state. 

 In Maine, the most remarkable seat, as respects landscape 

 gardening and architecture, is that of Mr. Gardiner, of 

 Gardiner. 



The environs of Boston are more highly cultivated than 

 those of any other city in North America. There are here 

 whole rural neighborhoods of pretty cottages and villas, 

 admirably cultivated, and, in many cases, tastefully laid out 

 and planted. The character of even the finest of these 

 places, is perhaps, somewhat suburban, as compared with 

 those of the Hudson river, but we regard them as furnish- 

 ing admirable hints for a class of residence likely to become 

 more numerous than any other in this country - - the taste- 

 ful suburban cottage. The owner of a small cottage resi- 

 dence may have almost every kind of beauty and enjoy- 

 ment in his grounds that the largest estate will afford, so 

 far as regards the interest of trees and plants, tasteful 

 arrangement, recreation, and occupation. Indeed, \\e have 

 little doubt that he, who directs personally the curve of 

 every walk, selects and plants every shrub and tree, and 



