416 Landscape Gardening 



of his guests. The various play of different characters 

 entertained him. Yet with all his fondness for fine places, 

 he justly estimated the tendency of their influence. He 

 was not enthusiastic, he was not seduced into blindness by 

 his own preferences, but he maintained that cool and accu- 

 rate estimate of things and tendencies which always made 

 liis advice invaluable. Is there any truer account of the 

 syren influence of a superb and extensive country-seat than 

 the following from the paper: "A Visit to Montgomery 

 Place." "It is not, we are sure, the spot for a man to plan 

 campaigns of conquest, and we doubt, even, whether the 

 scholar whose ambition it is 



" l<> scorn delights, 

 And live laborious days," 



would not find something in the air of this demesne so 

 soothing as to dampen the fire of his great purposes, and 

 dispose him to believe that there is more dignity in repose, 

 than merit in action." 



So, certainly, I believe, as the May days passed, and 

 found me still lingering in the enchanted garden. 



In August, 1846, "The Horticulturist" was commenced 

 by Mr. Luther Tucker, of Albany, who invited Mr. Downing 

 to become the editor, in which position he remained, writing 

 a monthly leader for it, until his death. These articles are 

 contained in the present volume. Literature offers no more 

 charming rural essays. They are the thoughtful talk of a 

 country gentleman, and scholar, and practical workman, 

 upon the rural aspects and interests of every month in the 

 year. They insinuate instruction, rather than directly 

 teach, and in a style mellow, mature, and cheerful, adapted 

 to every age and every mood. By their variety of topic 

 and treatment, they are, perhaps, the most complete memo- 

 rial of the man. Their genial simplicity fascinated all kinds 

 of persons. A correspondence which might be called affec- 

 tionate, sprang up between the editor and scores of his 

 readers. They wanted instruction and advice. They con- 

 fided to him their plans and hopes; to him - - the personally 



