Calls at Gardens and J^urseries. 29 



at any time; and while it keeps all cold air out of the house, it answers 

 the purpose of a shelf for placing on plants. Izi this manner the vines 

 have the full action of the air upon them, and the necessity of cutting 

 away the sill or sash, as is generally done to draw out the vines, when 

 they have acquired any size, is entirely prevented. It only remains to 

 be seen whether it will answer all the purposes when completed: if it 

 does, we shall endeavor to lay before our readers a plan of the same. 



Seat of Dr. Howard. — This appears to be a very good situation, 

 though, trom a mere passing visit, we had scarcely time to notice its 

 natural or artificial beauties. It is situated on Perkins' Street, but a 

 short distance from Jamaica Pond, which is plainly seen from the man- 

 sion. Of the stj^le of the grounds, &c. we shall speak at another time; we 

 now confine our remarks to the green-house which has been built the 

 past summer. It is about fifty feet long, with a main house and two 

 wings, and is heated with brick flues. The principal fault we have to 

 find with it is its height, which is barely sufficient to clear the head in 

 walking through the house. Vines are planted in the border, and, when 

 these come into bearing, it will be found impossible to pass along with- 

 out touching them: the situation is rather high, and the walk might 

 be easily sunk a foot or more, which would remedy this. Dr. Howard 

 has lately purchased this place, and the collection is entirely new. 

 The gardener, Mr. Irish, appears to understand his profession very 

 well, and the plants were in a healthy state ; the geraniums were 

 grown very strong. To occupy the spare room this winter, Mr. Irish 

 was planting some lettuces in one of the wings, there being no stage 

 for plants except in the centre apartment : these looked in a forward 

 state. In the other wing some had already attained a large size. 

 Among the plants in flower were a few camellias; three or four boxes 

 of mignonette perfumed the house with their fragrance, and some roses 

 and other common flowers were expanded. Another year there will be 

 more that is interesting. We hope Dr. Howard, who is a gentleman 

 of taste, and has suflicient means, will extend his collection and add to 

 it all the finer plants. It is an evidence of the rapid progress which 

 horticulture is making to see even as much, as has been already done, 

 accomplished in one season. He already contemplates, we believe, the 

 erection of a house, about eighty feet in length, for a grapery, peachery, 

 &c. 



Seat of T. Lee, Esq. — We had intended visiting this place the past 

 summer, when the various plants which are the principal attraction 

 here were in bloom. Mr. Lee is already known to our readers as a 

 great admirer of hardy jjlants, and as having made great exertions to 

 naturalize many of the kinds which have generally been called tender. 

 With what success his efforts, which are continued with much zeal, 

 will be crowned, remains to be seen. Since we were here, in 1835, a 

 small green-house has been added; Mr. Lee, however, does not appear 

 to be partial to green-house collections, as he has added scarcely any 

 plants to it. He stated to us, some time since, that during the winter 

 season, when i-esiding in the city, a green-house would not afford him 

 much pleasure; which is, perhaps, one reason of his not giving more 

 attention to getting up a collection: the present house was built only 

 for the purpose of protecting a few plants. We hope, however, that 

 Mr. Lee Avill alter his mind, and be induced to erect a range of houses 

 which will compare with that at Belmont Place; or, if not as extensive 

 as that, such an one as Mr. Wilder's at Hawthorn Grove. We admire 

 the taste which directs one to plant hardy trees and shrubs, which adds 

 so much to the embellishments of garden scenery; but we would not 

 exclude a love for green-house plants, which, during more than one 

 half of the year, present to our eyes a mass of foliage and flowers, 



