342 Mtes on Gardens and J^urseries. 



this house and all the others, except the old green-house, are 

 merely cold-houses, so called, from the circumstance of their 

 having no furnaces or flues for forcing. On the back wall some 

 fine nectarines and Royal George peaches were just ripening. 

 From some cause, unknown to Mr. Mason, the grapes in each of 

 the ranges are not so forward as they were last year, notwith- 

 standing the hot and dry summer. This, however, we infer, is 

 to be attributed to the very cool and backward weather of the 

 months of March and April, which kept back the vines from 

 starling for some days; and the subsequent warm summer has not 

 been sufficient to enable them to gain what they lost. It will be 

 a loss of some amount to the Messrs. Mason, as grapes now find 

 a ready sale, and produce considerably more than they will a 

 month hence. The wood for another season has perfected itself 

 already, and is vigorous and strong. 



In the old green-house there is scarcely a cluster of grapes on 

 the vines. This is mainly owing to the construction of the bor- 

 der and the planting of the vines. When they first came into 

 bearing, and for a few successive seasons, a good crop was cut: 

 but for the past two years it has been failing, till the vines have 

 ceased to produce any fruit. When the house was first erected, 

 a narrow border was made, about eight feet wide, very rich 

 and well prepared. In this the vines were planted, and made 

 beautiful wood. It was the intention to prepare the remainder of 

 the border, which was to extend at least fifteen feet, in the same 

 manner; but it was not done, and the border was filled up with 

 fresh loam from the garden, without being enriched at all. The 

 consequence of such neglect is, the total failure of the crop. The 

 roots have struck down deep after nourishment, not finding it near 

 the surface, until they have proceeded so far as to be entirely be- 

 yond the action of the air, (a great promoter of vegetation,) and 

 the vines have ceased to flourish with their former vigor. Too 

 much attention cannot be given to the proper preparation of the 

 border in all cases. Mr. Mason intends now to take up the 

 vines, trench, enrich and prepare the border, and plant out some 

 young and healthy vines. 



The green-house plants are standing about in various places, 

 and the only thing we saw remarkable was an -Erica, called E. 

 blanda, in full bloom, and very pretty. The blossoms are tubu- 

 lar, about an inch long, of a pale rose, and clustered together in 

 apparent whorls. It has somewhat the character of E. colorans, 

 but we think it difterent. The geraniums we found all potted, 

 and doing well. Of Azalea indica, indica phoenicea, and led- 

 ifolia, there is a very fine stock. 



The dahlias are sufiering, as they are every where, from the 

 long continued drought and the insects, and they do not promise 

 an over-abundance of blossoms. Very few plants enrich the bor- 



