HISTORICAL NOTICES. 25 



tent, are remarkable for elegant arrangement and for the high 

 keeping of the grounds, as well as the perfection to which the 

 art of gardening is carried within their precints.* In short, 

 we consider these places as fine models of a species of country 

 residence, which will undoubtedly become the most popular 

 in this country. While the extent of ground embraced in these 

 country seats, is rarely greater than is easily obtained every- 

 where in situations most desirable in the country, it includes 

 every thing which can render a country seat delightful ; 

 beautiful pleasure grounds large enough to admit of a park- 

 like character, varied with trees in irregular groups, smooth 

 lawns, and firm gravel roads, and walks ; flower and kitchen 

 gardens well stocked with floral beauties, and the most 

 excellent culinary productions ; and hot houses and forcing 

 houses, filled with all that can minister to the eye or the pa- 

 late. In short, this class of residences, while it comes within 

 the reach of such moderate fortunes as are not very rare in a 



* We Americans are, proverbially, impatient of delay, and a few years in 

 prospect, appears an endless futurity. So much is this the feeling with many, 

 that we verily believe there are hundreds of our country places, which owe 

 their bareness and destitution of foliage to the idea,, so common, that it requires 

 " an a^e " for forest trees to '^ grow up." 



The middle aged man, hesitates about the good of planting what he imagines 

 he shall never see arriving at maturity, and even many who are younger, 

 conceive that it requires more than an ordinary lifetime, to rear a tine wood of 

 planted trees. About two years since, we had the pleasure of visiting the seat 

 of the late iMr. Lowell, whom we found in a green old age, still enjoying with 

 the enthusiasm of youth, the pleasures of Horticulture and a country life. For 

 the information of those, who are ever complaining of the tardy pace with which 

 the growth of trees advances, we will here record that we accompanied Mr. L. 

 through a belt of fine woods (skirting part of his residence,) near half a mile in 

 I'^nsth, consistine of almost ail our finer hardy trees, many of them apparently 

 full grown, the whole of which had been planted by him when he was thirty-two 

 years old. At that time a solitary elm or two were almost the only trees upon 

 hiis estate. Wecan hardly conceive a more rational source of pride or enjoyment, 

 than to be able thus to walk in the decline of years, beneath the shadow of um- 

 brageous woods and groves planted by our own hands, and whose growth Las 

 become almost identified with our own progress and existence. 



