Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. 369 



overlooking the fruit garden to the east ; and in front, to the 

 south, the ground rises rapidly to the summit, which is fifty 

 or sixty feet above the lowest part. From this point a 

 pleasant view is obtained of the bay. 



When taken possession of, by Mr. Downer, nine or ten 

 years ago, it was scarcely anything more than a ledge of 

 rocks. On one small spot of quarter of an acre, now covered 

 with plants and trees, more than six hundred dollars' worth 

 of stone, suitable for building, were blown out. The fruit 

 garden was then a mere ravine ; but by carting in siv hun- 

 dred loads of sand, trenching and manuring, it has been made 

 one of the most fertile spots we have ever seen. A perpetual 

 spring, belonging to the town, and free to all who wish to 

 use it, rises within three feet of the surface ; and, except in 

 the driest seasons, such as the present, a stream of water 

 constantly runs through the length of the garden, imparting 

 a freshness and coolness to the atmosphere highly valuable 

 to the growth of the trees. 



Mr. Downer has, with excellent taste, taken advantage of 

 all these natural resources of his situation. The highest part 

 of the grounds is laid out in such a manner as to afford 

 space for fruit trees on the level spots, while all the rocky 

 places have been left with their natural growth, and the 

 cavities filled in with Norway spruces, hemlocks, and Arbor- 

 vitaes ; on the crevices of the ledge, where there was room 

 for a few baskets of soil, this was supplied, and planted with 

 evergreens. The effect is delightful ; we wander through 

 thickets of berberry and wild roses, the spontaneous growth 

 of the place, and then through walks bordered with a hand- 

 some growth of Norway spruces and hemlocks ; up the 

 body of a native elm climbs that pretty but neglected runner, 

 the Celastrus scandens, or Roxbury waxwork, as it is gen- 

 erally called ; and over the surface of exposed rocks, creeps 

 the Ampelopsis quinquefolia, or Virginia creeper. 



The fruit garden is separated from the other part of the 

 grounds, its whole length, by the ledge on which the house 

 is built ; and the embankment, except immediately in the 

 rear of the house, which has been terraced up, is covered 



VOL. XVIII. NO. VIII. 47 



