HISTORICAL NOTICES. 27 



the rarest trees and shrubs, were conspicuous features 

 here. Some of the latter are now so remarkable as to 

 attract strongly the attention of the visitor. Among 

 them, is the chestnut planted by Washington, which 

 produces the largest and finest fruit ; very large hollies ; 

 and a curious old box-tree much higher than the mansion 

 near which it stands. But the most striking feature now, 

 is the still remaining grand old avenue of hemlocks (Abies 

 canadensis). Many of these trees, which were planted 

 100 years ago, are now venerable specimens, ninety feet 

 high, whose huge trunks and wide spread branches are in 

 many cases densely wreathed and draped with masses of 

 English Ivy, forming the most picturesque sylvan objects 

 we ever beheld. 



Lemon Hill, half a mile above the Fairmount water- 

 works of Philadelphia, was, 20 years ago, the most perfect 

 specimen of the geometric mode in America, and since its 

 destruction by the extension of the city, a few years since, 

 there is nothing comparable with it, in that style, among 

 us. All the symmetry, uniformity, and high art of the 

 old school, were displayed here in artificial plantations, 

 formal gardens w T ith trellises, grottoes, spring-houses, 

 temples, .statues, and vases, with numerous ponds of water, 

 jets-d'eau, and other water- works, parterres and an exten- 

 sive range of hothouses. The effect of this garden was 

 brilliant and striking ; its position, on the lovely banks of 

 the Schuylkill, admirable ; and its liberal proprietor, Mr, 

 Pratt, by opening it freely to the public, greatly increased 

 the popular taste in the neighborhood of that city. 



On the Hudson, the show place of the last age was the 

 still interesting Clermont, then the residence of Chancellor 

 Livingston. Its level or gently undulating lawn, four or 



