122 OLD-FASHIONED GARDENING 



mowers to do this work then; doubtless it was part of 

 the gardener's helper's task to trim it. It is the space 

 mentioned in his first letter where grading was to be 

 done. 



Opposite the house, across this courtyard, came the 

 brew house and the malt house, under one roof; to- 

 gether they occupied a space thirty-five by fifty-five 

 feet. Farther along were the other buildings — shops, 

 tool-houses, poultry-houses and so on, very much as 

 the similar buildings were attached to the English 

 planned house of the Cavalier. In the middle of the 

 "lane" or courtyard was a well, as the Proprietary had 

 directed, "convenient for the several offices;" and 

 along one side of it — ^probably the front — there stood 

 a row of English red-heart cherry trees. In front of 

 the mansion, near the river, was a triple row of wal- 

 nut trees — the same no doubt that were sent from 

 England in 1684 and again in 1685, after Ralph had 

 given way to Nicholas as gardener. And a poplar- 

 lined walk was "below the steps to the water." 



A contemporary of the Lord Proprietary writes that 

 he "has built a very fine seat," at Pennsbury, and that 

 "The Lord C. visited this manner and was extreamly 

 pleased with the house, orchards and gardens. The 

 house is built with brick and stands high and dry, 

 having sixteen acres of very good orchards producing 

 better Pearmains and golden-pippins than any in Eng- 



