3 ° 
Old Time Gardens 
of colonial gardens. The fine Hancock mansion in 
Boston had a carefully-filled garden long previous 
to the Revolution. Such letters as the following 
were sent by Mr. Hancock to England to secure 
flowers for it : — 
“ My Trees and Seeds for Capt. Bennett Came Safe to 
Hand and I like them very well. I Return you my hearty 
Thanks for the Plumb Tree and Tulip Roots you were 
pleased to make me a Present off, which are very Accep- 
table to me. I have Sent mv friend Mr. Wilks a mmo. 
j 
to procure for me 2 or 3 Doz. Yew Trees, Some Hollys 
and Jessamine Vines, and if you have Any Particular Curious 
Things not of a high Price, will Beautifye a flower Garden 
Send a Sample with the Price or a Catalogue of ’em, I do 
not intend to spare Any Cost or Pains in making my 
Gardens Beautifull or Profitable. 
u P.S. The Tulip Roots you were Pleased to make a 
present off to me are all Dead as well.” 
We find Richard Stockton writing in 1766 
from England to his wife at their beautiful home 
“ Morven,” in Princeton, New Jersey: — - 
u I am making you a charming collection of bulbous roots, 
which shall be sent over as soon as the prospect of freezing 
on your coast is over. The first of April, I believe, will be 
time enough for you to put them in your sweet little flower 
garden, which you so fondly cultivate. Suppose I inform 
you that I design a ride to Twickenham the latter end of 
next month principally to view Mr. Pope’s gardens and 
grotto, which I am told remain nearly as he left them ; 
and that I shall take with me a gentleman who draws well, 
to lay down an exact plan of the whole.” 
