BEAUTIFUL GARDENS IN AMERICA 



the Manor House, giving continuous color all summer to 

 this charming place. The view of Mr. Steele's garden at 

 Westbury is a fine example of an ideal hillside planting 

 leading to the flower-beds on a lower level. 



Probably the oldest garden in New York State is the 

 one at Sylvester Manor, on Shelter Island, between the 

 shores of Long Island and Connecticut. This charming 

 little flower-plot is reached by a short flight of descending 

 steps. Some of its old Boxwood appears in the illustra- 

 tion of the pool which is a part of the garden scheme. The 

 original owners of Shelter Island were the Manhasset In- 

 dians. "In 1651 Nathaniel Sylvester came from England 

 with his young bride, and here they planted the Box, still 

 one of the wonders of the place, and erected the first manor- 

 house with its oak doors and panels and mantels fitted in 

 England, and brick tiles brought from Holland. The pres- 

 ent house was built in 1737 with enough of the woodwork 

 of the old house to maintain symmetry in traditions, and 

 stands to-day as it has stood the better part of two cen- 

 turies, filled with its old furniture, paintings, and curios. 

 Here is kept the cloth of gold left by Captain Kidd and 

 many other things that time and space forbid mentioning." 

 The old homestead has always remained in the family in 

 direct descent. 



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