432 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 



were the only specimens in this neighborhood, and are still 

 the only pines of large size around Jamaica Pond. The 

 grounds comprise some twenty acres on a high steep bank 

 which juts out into the pond, surrounded on three sides by 

 water. From some of the rooms in Mr. Perkins's house it 

 appears like an island. It is a delightful situation, and its 

 natural beauties exceed any suburban residence in our neigh- 

 borhood. 



The house was rebuilt in 1848, upon the site of the old 

 one, and is a beautiful example of the French chateau style, 

 by Lemounier, assisted by the good taste of Mr. Perkins. It is 

 square, without any outbuildings, and stands about five hun- 

 dred feet from the bank of the pond, with a beautiful lawn 

 occupying the intervening space. The entrance front opens 

 on to a broad avenue, and overlooks one of the ravines or 

 dimples which are peculiar to Pine Bank, and form one of its 

 most interesting features. These dimples are four or five in 

 number, in various parts of the pleasure grounds, and are from 

 twenty to thirty feet deep, with a sudden descent on all sides, 

 but always dry, and enriched with a fine growth of ever- 

 greens, forest trees, and ornamental shrubs. 



The grounds have been but little altered since they were 

 originally planted. So simple were the desires of these pio- 

 neers of ornamental gardening, that these old places really 

 display more genuine good taste than most of the more mod- 

 ern specimens of landscape art, which fritter away all that is 

 grand and picturesque in the attempt to do too much in a 

 limited space. It is really a treat to enjoy the breadth of 

 verdure and depth of shade which the open lawn and well- 

 planted pleasure-grounds afford. 



Pine Bank has some very remarkable specimens of trees. 

 Two of the finest dogwoods we ever saw border one of the 

 main avenues ; they have a spread of more than twenty feet, 

 and are in the perfection of growth and foliage : a fine fringe 

 tree (Chronanthus virginicus) is upwards of thirty years old. 

 There are also some beautiful Norway spruces. The white 

 pines, which Ave have already alluded to, are 70 or 80 feet 

 high ; two or three of them on the border of the eastern 



