22 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



spent in investigating the theory without any such practical 

 illustrations. And although we have but iew such as might 

 be termed " show places," yet we shall venture to refer the 

 reader to several examples which have considerable reputa- 

 tion among us as elegant country residences. 



Hyde Park, on the Hudson, the seat of the late Dr. Hosack, 

 has been justly celebrated as one of the finest specimens of the 

 modern style of Landscape Gardening in America. Nature has 

 indeed done much for this place, as the grounds are finely 

 Varied, beautifully watered by a lively stream, and the views 

 from the neighbourhood of the house itself, including as they 

 do the noble Hudson, and the superb wooded valley which 

 stretches away until bounded at the horizon by the distant 

 summits of the blue Cattskills, are unrivalled in picturesque 

 beauty. But the efforts of art are not unworthy so rare a lo- 

 cality ; and while the native woods and beautifully undulating 

 grounds are preserved in their original state, the pleasure 

 grounds, roads, walks, drives, and new plantations, have been 

 laid out in so tasteful a manner as to heighten the charms of 

 nature. Large and costly hot-houses were erected, and elegant 

 entrance lodges at two points on the estate, a fine bridge over the 

 stream, and numerous pavilions and seats commanding exten- 

 sive prospects ; in short, nothing was spared to render this seat 

 one of the very finest in America. The park, which at one 

 time contained some fine deer, afforded a delightful drive 

 within itself^ as the whole estate numbered about seven hun- 

 dred acres. The plans for laying out the grounds, were fur- 

 nished by Parmentier, and architects from New- York were 

 employed in designing and erecting the buildings. Since 

 the death of Dr. Hosack, the place has lost something of the 

 high keeping which it formerly evinced, but we still consider 

 it one of the most instructive seats in this country. 



