The Piedmont Section 



The design of this old garden is in formal squares, which are 

 separated from each other by wide grass-covered walks. Each 

 square is deeply bordered with flowers and the Inside filled with 

 small vegetables. A bold stream, along whose banks were natural- 

 ized daffodils, narcissi, and forget-me-nots, runs through the 

 garden; and, at intervals, this was spanned by three rustic bridges. 



In the borders were all kinds of old-fashioned flowers of that 

 day, and Its many varieties of peonies were known far and wide. 

 The serpentine wall was covered with English Ivy, and In Its curves 

 were violets and lilies of the valley. There was a huge cherry tree 

 in the center of the garden from which radiated the rose arbors. 

 There were avenues of lilac and other shrubs, with blossom or 

 decorative berry for each month of the year, as well as sunny 

 corners of sweet herbs, as essential to the excellence of old gardens 

 as old cooks. 



With Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other distin- 

 guished neighbors, the garden at Barboursvllle was not infre- 

 quently the scene of merriment; nor did they need the local moon- 

 shine to give snap and sparkle to these occasions, for the cellars 

 near by were amply stocked with imported liquors, and mint flour- 

 ished in every nook and cranny, so no guest ever left Barboursvllle 

 without at least one sip of the favorite beverage of old Virginians. 



One of the distinctive features of the house is the wide grass 

 ramp leading up to the high front porch. The house was burned 

 on Christmas Day, 1884. The interior Is gone, but the vine-clad 

 walls and tall white columns, draped in volunteer grape and 

 ampelopsis, are still standing in their picturesque ruins. 



A large walnut tree has grown up through the house and has 

 sympathetically spread Its branches In place of a roof. A long, low 

 wing at the right of the house is all that Is left of the grand old 

 mansion; but this serves as a charming retreat for a descendant, 

 Governor Barbour's granddaughter, who lives there in the shadow 

 of past glory and who cordially extends the old-time welcome. 



Caroline Coleman Duke. 



[259] 



