225 THE FLORIST AND 



always in order; though it was small yet it was a 12 months journey 

 to get through it ; if there be a paradise on earth surely it is Dun- 

 cliffe Cottage. 



There were but six sashes on the place, a brick pit with two and 

 two cold frames of twos ashes each j young plants of Cheiranthus 

 Mathiola, Dianthus, Primula, &c., were wintered in pots and pro- 

 tected in the cold frames in winter, and a hot-bed was made in the 

 spring for raising seedlings, which were pricked out into the cold 

 frames after the other plants were set out. Many new varieties 

 have originated there. I was but a favored visitor, as admittance 

 was rarely allowed. It was said that Mr. H. paid twelve pounds 

 for a bulb of the Tulip Louis XVI and would have ridden miles to 

 see a new Carnation or Auricula ; he had too aviareis of songsters, 

 and also an Owl and an Eagle ; the Owl was named "Cameron of 

 Lochiel," and the Eagle "George Washington." 



Respectfully, Walter Elder. 

 Philadelphia, July 7, 1853. 



NOTES ON GARDENS. 



Paschall Morris & Co., West Chester, Pa. 



Having an hour to spare in this town, I took a stroll through the grounds 

 of these gentlemen, and I was agreeably surprised in a place seemingly so 

 local, to find so much attention and space given to ornamenting shrubs and trees 

 — the grounds extended over thirty acres/ and the variety was very great, 

 as well as the stock of each kind. What struck me most pleasurably, and 

 afforded me most interest Was the assortment of evergreens ; and it was a 

 few new facts which I learned for the first time in connection with some of 

 them that induced me to prepare these notes for you. In these times when 

 the demand for evergreens is approaching to a sort of fever, it is well to 

 know what kinds are decidedly hardy. The Auracaria imbricata has been 

 given up in many quarters ; several trials having proved unfortunate. Here 

 were many which have stood out two winters. In the severe winter of 

 1851-2 they mostly lost their side shoots. From the appearance of these 

 plants I have no doubt that when the specimens are gradually hardened, 

 they will prove quite hardy -^-Juniper us excelsa, seemed more at home, it 



