iji the neighbo7'hood of Boston. 57 



sorts, and quite a number of seedlings, none of which, how- 

 ever, were yet in flower. Heaths, Acacias, Epacris and nu- 

 merous other subjects filled this house. 



I must not omit the collection of Pelargoniums, which, 

 however, is too well known to render any remarks of mine 

 necessary. In one batch, of about 500 plants, were all the 

 latest varieties of Beck, Storey, Lyne and Foster, the cel- 

 ebrated English growers. These plants were in fine trim, 

 dwarf, stubby, and having leaves of a deep dark green hue, 

 indicative of constitutional vigor and healthiness. The col- 

 lections of these plants here, is, I believe, unrivalled by any 

 other in America, and is well worthy of its wide spread rep- 

 utation. 



In the Fruit department, I was astonished to find such an 

 extensive collection of specimen trees, of pears, apples, cher- 

 ries, peaches, plums, &c. — but more especially of pears. 

 We hear a great deal about the specimen grounds, of nur- 

 sery men, and being fond of these subjects, I have travelled 

 some considerable distance to see them, both in this country 

 and in England, but have found their existence only in cat- 

 alogues and advertisements. I confess, therefore, I was not 

 prepared for the coup-d^oeil which was here presented to me. 



The walks are laid out at right angles, and bordering 

 them on each side, at the distance of three feet from the 

 edge, the trees are planted in rows, — ^just six feet apart for 

 the pears and plums ; and eight feet for the apples, cherries, 

 and peaches : all are dwarfs, even the cherries, branching 

 within a foot of the ground ; and the effect, therefore, in 

 summer, when the trees form almost a perfect belt of foliage 

 and fruit, can be better imagined than described. Many of 

 the trees have been accurately figured in Mr. Hovey's splen- 

 did work, the Fruits of America, and they faithfully repre- 

 sent the peculiar habit of growth of each variety. 



The pear trees were well proportioned, some of them be- 

 ing perfect pyramids, and would do honor to any private 

 garden in the land ; they seemed to be in good soil, — were 

 healthy, without being too gross and luxuriant, — and were 

 thickly set with flower buds, giving every promise of a good 



VOL. XVI. NO. II. 8 



