46 J^otes made during a Visit to J^eiv York, ^-c. 



bors of Pursh and others, aided by the weahh and taste of 

 Mr. HatniUon, contributed so much to the advancement of 

 botany and gardening in this country. 



We passed into the grounds through the old gate, with its 

 lodges now in a ruined state, and winding up a new avenue, 

 lately cut, to facilitate the drawing out of the limber where it 

 bad been hewn down, we arrived in front of the old mansion. 

 Standing upon what was formerly a noble lawn, but now over- 

 run with weeds, our thoughts were carried back to the period, 

 when, under the care of the skilful gardener, it might have 

 vied, both in keeping and picturesque beauty, with the prince- 

 ly demesne of the English noblemtin. The gently undulat- 

 ing surface of the grounds, the fine groups of trees, the 

 broad glades of green turf, all contributing to render the place 

 one of the finest residences the fancy could picture up. We 

 could only hope that the ruthless hand of the woodman, in 

 the mania for modern improvement, might spare the noble gi- 

 ants of the forest which rear their heads in majestic grandeur 

 and stillness over a spot rendered so beautiful by the labors of 

 man. 



The garden is situated to the west of the entrance front of 

 the house, and occupies a valley of about five or six acres in 

 extent. From the gardener's lodge, it is entered by descend- 

 ing a flight of several steps in the rear of the old green-house, 

 now in so dilapidated a state that little idea can be formed of 

 its original appearance: the back wall is built of stone, and is 

 carried up so as to secure a number of rooms for the garden- 

 er over the furnaces and potting rooms. One range of it is a 

 conservatory in the old style, with a blank roof, and the gar- 

 dener's lodge at one end; the wing forms the green-house. 

 In front of the conservatory, we saw the old sun-dial, cut in 

 freestone, a remnant of the flower garden which formerly oc- 

 cupied that spot. 



But leaving the associations which are connected with its 

 former condition, we turn to its present occupancy. ]\fr. 

 Dreer has converted the old flower garden into a dahlia 

 ground, and we found the best collection here in bloom 

 that we observed in the city. [Mr. Dreer obtained the first 

 prize of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for the best 

 blooms at their last annual exhibition. Vol. VJI., p. 4G9.] 

 Jn the green-house, we found a good collection of cacti, and 

 back of the conservatory, a large number of green-house 



