104 Notes and Gleanings. 



Visit to Glen Ridge. — On the loth of June, we visited Glen Ridge, the 

 residence of E. S. Rand, jun., Esq., so well known to the readers of the Journal 

 for his most instructive articles on the cultivation of flowers, in doors and out. 

 We cannot doubt that many who have read Mr. Rand's communications have 

 often felt a curiosity to see the place where all the experience so freely given 

 was acquired ; certainly we have, and so, when invited by the Garden Committee 

 of the Horticultural Society to accompany them, we most gladly accepted the 

 invitation. The approach to the house is through an extensive addition which 

 has lately been made to his grounds, which was in quite an unfinished state ; 

 but this, however, gave us an opportunity to see how thoroughly the improve- 

 ments which have been commenced are made. 



The great attraction at the time of our visit was the rhododendrons, of which 

 Mr. Rand has probably the largest collection of varieties, and the largest plants, 

 in the country, including the newest varieties and the most unique colors. We 

 saw several very fine trees trained as standards, which, although imported from 

 England only last year, were covered with flowers. Among the finest varieties we 

 noted the names of atrosanguineuui, Vandyke, roseii?n superbutn, Brayanuvi, 

 purpiireuni elega7ts znd grandijlonim, concessiiin, and Minnie (the last not yet 

 proved hardy), and many others. 



Mr. Rand next led us through a path bordered on one side with a raised bank 

 planted with thriving young rhododendrons, which, to our astonishment, he in- 

 formed us had formerly been the entrance avenue, and the magical change which 

 we beheld had all been effected within six weeks. Retracing our steps towards 

 the house, we came upon another mass of rhododendrons, including some of the 

 hardiest and showiest kinds, such as rosejini elegans, album e/egans and grandi- 

 florum, Evercstianuin, pitrpureiiin grandijloruni, gigantetint (perfectly hardy, 

 and of fine color), and coriaceuin, one of the best whites, and also perfectly hardy. 



Our visit was made at a late hour in the afternoon, in the hope of viewing 

 the ground by the sunset light ; but a cloudy sky, with portents of a shower, 

 deprived us of the finest effect : yet, looking up the valley from the piazza, we 

 could imagine how charming the view when glorified by the light of the setting 

 sun. 



Our limited time permitted us to examine but a few of the fine ornamental 

 trees and shrubs upon the lawn ; but we did not overlook the splendid specimen 

 of the cut-leaved beech, and our attention was called to its tendency to return 

 to the original type, shown by an occasional branch with leaves of the Ordinary 

 shape. A group oi Andromeda Catesbcei was flowering profusely; but this 

 pretty shrub has the drawback of an unpleasant odor, somewhat resembling that 

 of the ailanthus. We also noticed fine plants oi Andromeda Jioribunda 2LXid. 

 Polifolia, and clumps of Kaimia. 



We were particularly interested in the plum-trees, of which Mr. Rand gave an 

 account in the Journal for July, 1868 ; and the appearance of the trees showed 

 that he had not lost faith in dusting with lime as a preventive of the curculio ; 

 and the promise of fruit showed that he has reason for his faith. 



Only want of time prevented us from noticing many more objects of interest; 

 but we trust to do this on some future occasion, for Mr. Rand's hospitality both 

 in his house and grounds may well induce us to repeat our visit. 



