HISTORICAL NOTICES. 553 



country, we can only refer our readers to Mr. Downing'^ 

 remarks about them in the first portion of this volume. 



"While the hand of time has even still more mellowed 

 their beauties by those touches and effects which 

 Nature alone can produce with years, yet even here the 

 hand of man has not been idle. 



At Annandale and Hyde Park, extensive ranges of 

 glass have replaced the old ones of previous owners,* 

 while at Montgomery Place and Ellerslie the most 

 showy and superb conservatories and green-houses have 

 been erected. 



At Montgomery Place also, there has been planted 

 within the past ten years, the most complete and satis- 

 factory arboretum in the United States. Neither pains 

 or expense have been spared in obtaining the most entire 

 and thorough collection, or in the peculiar and appro- 

 priate preparation of soil for the reception of the 

 different varieties. 



In the neighborhood of Rhinebeck, is " Wyndclyffe," 

 the residence of Miss Jones, a very successful and dis- 

 tinctive house, with much the appearance of some of 

 the smaller Scotch castles. This place is still quite 

 new, but the situation is one of great beauty, upon a 

 bold, projecting point of land, in admirable harmony 

 with the style of the house, and with the most extensive 

 and superb views. 



Immediately above Hyde Park, is the fine house of 

 Mr. Curtis, one of the most expensive and costly upon 

 the Hudson, possessing very much the same extended 

 views of river and mountain as at Hyde Park. 



Roseneatli the residence of C. M. Wolcott, Esq., 

 in our own immediate neighborhood, is the creation of 

 the past few years, and we are very much indebted to 

 it for a great many advantages to our own place, which 



* At Hyde Park, a very graceful and elegant house of the composite order, 

 designed and built by Platt, of New York, and with a facade of one hundred 

 and fifty feet, lias withiu a few year?, replaced the hospitable old mansion of 

 the late Dr. Hosnck. 



