470 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE, 



roof, and divided into a stove and greenhouse by a glass par- 

 tition. The first division, which is the greenhouse, we 

 found nearly filled with very fine specimens of pelargoniums, 

 just going out of bloom, but still very showy ; the other 

 part, which is the stove, was gay with achinienes, gloxinias, 

 &c. The achimenes were in large pans, a foot or more 

 broad, and each plant formed one immense bouquet, so well 

 were they grown and so luxuriantly flowered. We particu- 

 larly noticed a fine pan of the gloxinaeflora. A plant of the 

 singular but superb variegated leaved Cissus discolor was 

 making immense foliage ; it is a rich acquisition. In a pan 

 we noticed some fine heaths, whose culture Mr. Halley seems 

 to understand well, each plant being a perfect pyramid of 

 foliage ; after the hot and trying weather of the early part of 

 July, so fatal to heaths, they appeared in remarkably fine 

 order. 



The grape-houses were looking well ; the crop in the first 

 house was just ripe, and a more even and regular crop we 

 have rarely seen, though not very high colored. Mr. Halley 

 stated that Avhen he took possession of the place, this house 

 was filled with the mealy bug ; but by active exertions, 

 nearly similar to the course detailed in the article in our last 

 number, he destroyed them so completely that scarcely one 

 is to be seen : the grapes were perfectly clean. This is the 

 only course to pursue when once the bug gets possession of 

 the house ; no half-way measures will succeed ; they must 

 be attacked vigorously and continuously ybr one season, until 

 they are completely routed. 



Oakley Place is another of the old residences in our vicin- 

 ity. It was laid out many years ago, and the trees have now 

 attained a large size. The avenue which leads up to the 

 house is long, and bordered with an irregular plantation of 

 trees on each side. On the lawn front are two fine purple 

 beeches, about twenty-five feet high ; but the finest speci- 

 men of this conspicuous tree that we have ever seen around 

 Boston, stands on an embankment between the house and 

 garden ; it is forty or fifty feet high, and perfect in shape, its 

 rich black purple foliage contrasting strongly with the green 

 tints of the surrounding trees. 



