378 Calls at Gardens and Jfurseries, 



Art. V. Calls at Gardens and Nurseries. 



Belmont Place, Watertown, J. P. Gushing, Esq. — August 14. 

 The late dry weather has greatly checked the growth and bloom of 

 many plants, and we consequently found the garden less attractive than 

 it usually is at this season of the year. The dahlias, owing to the un- 

 usual drought, have not blossomed so well as was expected. We notic- 

 ed several plants trahied to a trellis for peach trees, which displayed 

 finer flowers thsin some of those tied to stakes; this we presume was 

 in some degree occasioned by the pruning which they must necessarily 

 have in such situations. There is a fine collection in this garden; near- 

 ly a hundred sorts having been added this season, among which are 

 many of the most superb ones; such as Bride of Abydos, Wells's Za- 

 rah, Harding's Bride, Viscountess Beresford, &c; should a good fall of 

 rain succeed the present dry weather, and the frost hold off until late 

 in October, we may anticipate one of the finest displays of dahlias 

 ever seen. Among the numerous annuals which adorn the border, 

 none make a greater show than the double China asters; there are here 

 two rows on the border, in front of the forcing-houses, which present one 

 mass of flowers of varied hue; in front of these, and close to the box 

 edging of the walk, a corresponding row of mignonette extends the 

 entire length, and perfumes the whole air of the garden with its delightful 

 odor. We are often surprised to see how little attention most persons 

 give to mixing in with the showy plants of the border a good abun- 

 dance of fragrant flowers. Though the blossoms are frequently not 

 gorgeous or very ornamental, they add much moi-e to the delight of the 

 garden than others which attract only by their brilliancy : sweet allys- 

 sum is very pretty planted with mignonette. In different parts of the 

 border we noticed a great many plants of the old China monthly rose, 

 covered with a profusion of blossoms : in the rich soil of this garden 

 the old roots, which stand out the year round, throw up strong shoots 

 to the height of twenty or thirty inches, with large clusters of buds, to 

 the number of twenty or more in each. The flowers are of short du- 

 ration under our hot sun, but this kind is so prolific of bloom, that there 

 is scarcely a day in the summer season but what there are a greater or 

 less number expanded. We here also saw a strong plant of the 

 noisette rose, Smith's yellow, in bloom. It stood out during last winter, 

 and although the shoots were killed down to the surface of the soil, the 

 plant has thrown up a succession of new ones, to the height of three 

 feet, with quite large clusters of buds; on some stout suckers we count- 

 ed eight or ten. Mr. Haggerston, however, informs us that the flowers 

 do not expand freely, many of them not opening at all. We have ob- 

 served this defect in plants in the green-house ; occasionally a fine 

 flower fully expands, but the generality of the buds rarely open. Heat 

 does not seem to remove this habit, and if it is a free bloomer in the cli- 

 mate of England, of which we have never heard to the contrary, it 

 must be the eft'ect of our hot sun and drying winds. We are sorry to 

 see that this exceedingly fine variety is likely to show a defect which 

 will prevent its being generally grown. We hope some of our 

 amateur florists will try to discover the cause of this, and, if possible, 

 means to render the flowers perfect. 



We were glad to see the great number of kalmias, rhododendrons, 

 azaleas, magnolias, and other hardy American shrubs which have been 

 planted in this garden the past spring : although the season has been so 

 dry, they are doing well, and show numerous flower buds. They are 



