374 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Auo. 



sort. None of these things were to be seen. The 

 house was an old one, renovated and slightly 

 modernized, with a porch on one side and a pi- 

 azza on the other, and a little bow-window for 

 plants. The fence was a simple paling:, made 

 and painted by the owner's own hands The lawn 

 in front was not large, but it was indeed a lawn — 

 smooth, closely shaven, and of the finest sort of 

 grasses, and notwithstanding the prevailing 

 drouth, quite green. The trees were well chosen 

 specimens of their respective kinds, evergreens 

 and deciduous, pleasantly intermingled. Mr. 

 Brown, the proprietor, has a strong preference 

 for native trees over foreign, and thinks it al- 

 most a test of one's patriotism to think as he 

 does. He is very fond of raising trees from seed, 

 and has a little nursery of all sorts of native 

 seedlings, from which he transplants to different 

 parts of his grounds as occasion requires. 



One feature of Mr. B.'s planting attracted our 

 particular attention, viz. : his management of 

 groups. Some were open and wide-spreading, 

 others as close and dense with undergrowth, as 

 the wildest forest. Some were set on the out- 

 skirts, with low-branching trees and shrubs and 

 vines, and the foliage was so closely interlaced 

 down to the very ground that the eye could not 

 penetrate it at all. On the margins, were piled 

 boulders and broken masses of rocks, over which 

 wild shrubs and vines clambered, giving the 

 whole a very picturesque air. Gravel walks 

 wound among these groups, frequently leading 

 into the centre of them, where were rustic seats, 

 on which the family or visitor could sit and enjoy 

 siestas, shielded from the sun and from all obser- 

 vation. This was the wildness and seclusion of 

 the forest, in the midst of a highly dressed lawn, 

 and within three rods of Mr. B.'s parlor. 



The spaces between these groups were kept 

 mowed, and here and there were circular beds of 

 flowers. For instance, we noticed one bed of 

 crimson petunias side by side with one of pure 

 white. Adjoining these ornamental grounds, but 

 concealed by hedges, were the kitchen and fruit 

 gardens, in which vegetables and the smaller 

 fruits were growing in a healthful and vigorous 

 manner that showed good care. 



Leaving this part of the premises, Mr, B. con- 

 ducted us along a carriage-road leading to a val- 

 ley in the rear of his premises. Observing that 

 this road was somewhat broken where it ran in 

 a straight line, but smooth where it curved, Mr. 

 B. said he had noticed the same thing, and had 

 ready an explanation of it. Where the road was 

 straight, the hinder wheels of his wagons (which 

 were often heavy loaded) followed exactly in the 

 tracks of the forward, and thereby deepened the 

 rut; but where the road curved, the different 

 wheels ran over different portions of the ground, 

 and therefore did not cut any part badly. So in 

 road-making, as in many other things, utility and 

 beauty run in the same track. 



Following this road, we were soon in the midst 

 of a well-wooded valley, down which ran a stream 

 broken by occasional rapids and waterfalls. At 

 the foot of one of these falls, which was about 

 twenty feet high, Mr. Brown had built one or two 

 rude seats. From this point, we followed a path 

 leading by a gentle ascent in various windings up 

 the sides of a tree-covered hill, until we reached 

 the top. This was not a gravel walk, but simply 



a wide wood-path, laid out by our host himself, 

 and easily kept in order. This hill proved to be 

 a ridge with several distinct eminences. On each 

 of them the underbrush had been cleared up, and 

 comfortable rustic seats built out of the trees and 

 grape-vines of the surrounding forest. And now 

 came a series of pleasant surprises. From one of 

 these peaks, a view had been f ut out through the 

 woods in a southern direction, embracing a wide 

 range of country, hills, valleys, streams, and scat- 

 tered farm-houses. The landscape in every other 

 direction was left purposely shut out from obser- 

 vation. After resting and enjoying ourselves 

 awhile here, we followed the path down into the 

 forest again, until ere long we turned and gained 

 another summit. Here were home-made seats 

 again, and another prospect, but in an entirely 

 different direction. Before us in the distance, 

 were two valleys converging, with their mill- 

 streams, and factories, and villages. From this 

 point, too, all other views were excluded. Off 

 again, but in the direction of the valley, we fol- 

 lowed our host's guidance among the trees, until 

 we came upon a seat built close upon the brink 

 of a precipice, from which all outward views were 

 cut off by overhanging trees and wild vines, but 

 from which on looking downward, almost under 

 our feet, we saw the house and grounds of Mr. 

 B., the repose and beauty of which were in strik- 

 ing contrast with the wild spot in which we were 

 sitting. Could anything have been more charm- 

 ing ! After enjoying this nook awhile, and lis- 

 tening to the musical tinkle of the stream below, 

 we took up our line of march down into the val- 

 ley, and thence to the house, where a dinner re- 

 freshed us after our long ramble. 



Now, we venture to say that there are few 

 places within fifty miles so attractive as this. Yet 

 it was not the property of a rich man. Nearly 

 all these improvements were made by the own- 

 er's skillful hands, with only a trifling outlay of 

 money. They were made from time to time, at 

 odd hours, as a means of recreation from other 

 and harrassing pursuits, and all within the past 

 seven years. It is true, Mr. Brown had a valley 

 and a hill to work up such as few possess ; but 

 then he had also a quick eye, and a ready hand, 

 and a stout will, which seldom fail to accomplish 

 great results anywhere. The fact is, most per- 

 sons are too lazy to effect much; and they are 

 glad of the chance to yawn their complaint : "O, 

 if I were only ricli, I could have a fine place !" 

 What such men as Mr. Brown have done with 

 limited means, and in so short a time, others may 

 do, if they only possess a like enthusiastic love 

 of rural pursuits, a willingness to sacrifice some 

 other common gratifications, if need be, and per- 

 haps to sweat a little, in order to secure a desir- 

 able object. 



Rutland County Agricultnral Society, 

 Vt. — This Society oS'ers very liberal premiums for 

 the present season, and means to make progress 

 prominent among the farmers of the county. The 

 officers are : — Alpha H. Post, Rutland, Presi- 

 dent ; J. M. Ketciium, Sudbury, Vice Presi- 

 dent ; Henry Clark, Poultney, Secretary ; W. 

 H. Smith, Rutland, Cor. Sec. ; Zimri Howe, 

 Castleton, Treasurer ; Henry W. Lester, Rut- 

 land, Auditor. 



