the Residence of D. P. Majiice, Esq. 533 



others of the Washington ; some of Three-thorned acacia — 

 some of buckthorn — some of arbor vitse, and others of the 

 privet; all look Avell, — but to our fancy the buckthorn and 

 privet bear off the palm, except when used as a screen, and 

 then the arbor vitse must claim preeminence. The verdure of 

 the privet is deeper than the buckthorn, and it retains its fo- 

 liage very late — qualities which add greatly to its value. The 

 Washington thorn has a dark glossy foliage, but does not 

 appear to make so compact a hedge. 



We have remarked that the soil was light and sandy, and, 

 consequently, quickly affected by the droughts of summer, 

 and to such a degree as to greatly injure not only annual 

 crops, but trees of all sizes and kinds. To counteract this 

 want of moisture in the soil, Mr. Manice has, at great ex- 

 pense and labor, recently completed very extensive water- 

 works, located in the rear of the park, the reservoir of which 

 is elevated some twenty-five feet above the surrounding 

 ground, so as to irrigate every part of his premises. The 

 water is supplied from a well, elevated by windmill power, 

 but a gale, subsequent to our visit, having demolished it, Mr. 

 Manice informs us that he has now adopted a steam pump, 

 which is to raise two hundred gallojis per minute. The sup- 

 ply of water from a well, thirty or forty feet deep, is almost 

 inexhaustible ; a sufficient quantity to fill the reservoir, hold- 

 ing many thousand gallons, not materially lessening its depth. 

 From the reservoir, under-ground pipes of iron, ten inches in 

 diameter, conduct the water through all the main walks, 

 and when wanted for use, a hose, applied to any of the hy- 

 drants, which are fitted at convenient distances, will dis- 

 charge a volume of water with sufficient force to completely 

 irrigate every portion of the grounds. The expense of con- 

 structing the water-works exceeded $4000. 



Mr. Manice deserves great credit for the taste he has dis- 

 played in making a place, naturally possessing so few advan- 

 tages for a country residence, so full of interest. No depart- 

 ment of horticulture has been neglected, and when the 

 water-works are completed, Oatlands must become one of 

 the finest residences on Long Island. 



