424 Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. 



branches were so heavy, as to require propping up to pre- 

 vent their breaking from the weight of fruit. Notwith- 

 standing this great crop, the tree has borne abundantly 

 every year since it first began to fruit. It is a most valu- 

 able variety, especially for the market ; it keeps for a long 

 time, and usually brings a fair price. The whole col- 

 lection of fruit trees was in fine condition ; the bark smooth 

 and clean, and the heads trimmed out with a judicious eye, 

 to the maturation of the wood and the ripening of the 

 fruit. 



The next object which attracted our notice was the grape 

 house, part of which is without fire heat ; here we found 

 an excellent crop, highly colored, and the berries of fine size. 

 Mr. Johnson certainly has very good success with his vines. 

 The grapes in the other part of the house, which were start- 

 ed early, were of fine size, and deeply colored, as we have 

 before stated, in our reports of the Mass. Hort. Soc, but they 

 were all gone now. Mr. Johnson's diary of the tempera- 

 ture of the grapery and the general management of heat 

 and moisture, &c., appeared in our last volume (VIII. p. 201,) 

 and it will be found to contain an accurate detail of his ex- 

 perience, and form a perfect guide to those who are yet 

 uninitiated in the first principles of forcing the grape. 



Passing into the flower garden, as usual, we found every- 

 thing in the neatest order, each plant allowed sufficient 

 room, without being encroached upon by its neighbor. Not- 

 withstanding the lateness of the season, we saw nothing 

 neglected. Some of the most ornamental plants were the 

 Portulaca splendens ; these were growing as single speci- 

 mens and in masses, and the brilliant effect produced by 

 the rich crimson blossoms cannot be expressed. Z>6tus 

 jacobse'us, with its tiny dark flowers and equally slender 

 foliage, was remarkably pretty. Verbenas, double stocks 

 and German asters occupied prominent spaces among the 

 other annuals. Indeed, we left more impressed with the 

 idea than ever, that an acre cultivated well, aflbrds far 

 greater satisfaction both to the possessor and to his friends, 

 than a dozen kept in a slovenly manner. 



The gardens of Mr. A. Breed ajid Mr. Webster., both con- 

 tain very good collections of fruit trees, small grape houses 

 and flower gardens, but we did not see any thing sufficiently 

 new to deserve particular mention. 



Passing on to Salem, at noon, we arrived there in season 



