532 Noles of a Visit to Oatlands, 



them the Spanish,) about thirty feet high, and so loaded 

 with fruit that their branches touched the ground, were ob- 

 jects which every lover of trees should see; of the Spanish, 

 Mr. Manice has gathered twenty-four fruits which weighed 

 a jwiind. In front of the conservatory and stove, and near 

 the house, were fine specimens of Magnolm conspicua, twelve 

 feet high, which are perfectly hardy here ; M. purpurea and 

 M. Soulangedwa. The yew is perfectly hardy. 



We now entered the fruit garden, which is filled with 

 standard and dwarf trees, the former in rows, about twenty 

 feet apart; the unpropitious season had affected the trees 

 here, as in other places, and Mr. Manice had but little fruit 

 this year. We noticed, however, a tree of Beurre Langelier, 

 with three or four fruits, the first time of its bearing here. 

 About half an acre is filled with dwarf pear trees on the 

 quince, now of good size. Mr. Manice has a plum garden 

 on the plan which we have heretofore noticed, viz., a square 

 planted with trees, under which the ground is wholly paved 

 with brick, and surrounded with a high board fence, thus 

 cutting off" all means of egress for the curculio ; the paving 

 preventing them from making their way out of the ground, 

 and the fence keeping them from the enclosure. The trees 

 were in fine condition, and Mr. Manice informed us he had 

 been successful in securing abundant crops of plums. The fig 

 is cultivated here in the open ground, the plants being pro- 

 tected by large boxes, which cover the plants, with a few 

 leaves thrown in among the branches, before the top is nailed 

 on. The plan is worthy of being followed by ail who like to 

 try the fig in the open air. 



The forcing-houses are extensive, being about one hundred 

 and fifty feet long, and divided into three compartments, one 

 of which is an early vinery, one a succession house, and the 

 last a cold house. The crop was abundant, and the vines 

 were yet bearing a quantity of fruit. One of the houses was 

 nearly filled with the Muscat of Alexandria, so well ripened 

 as to have that rich amber tint which it always acquires 

 when fully mature. The walls are of brick, and every thing 

 is built in the most substantial manner. 



The various hedges, in different parts of the grounds, are ex- 

 ceedingly well managed — some are of the Cockspur Thorn — 



