FARM AND VILLA OF MR. COLT. 
153 
a complete, suite of rooms. They also open into the 
conservatory by raising the windows, which extend 
from the ceiling to the floor. 
d. Vestibule, 10 feet square. 
e. Hall, 10 feet by 56. 
f. Stairway, 
Private stairway. 
Dressing-room to bed-room Jc. 
i Bed-room 
j. Dining-room, 25 by 20, corresponding with the 
centre parlor. The chimney to this is unique, being 
a hollow Ionic pillar of Scagliola marble, through 
which a pipe is placed to carry off the smoke. 
k. Bed-room. 
/. Portico to conservaory. 
m. Conservatory.— n. Hothouse. 
From the above simple description, we think the 
reader will now have a pretty good idea of the charm- 
ing place that the taste and persevering industry of 
Mr. Colt has formed at Roswell House. With its 
buildings and terraces, park, lake, and gardens', it will 
indeed be a most enchanting spot when completed, 
and well worthy the visit of those who take pleasure 
in viewing such things, or who would study to im- 
rove themselves in architecture and landscape gar- 
ening. 
Fruit Trees and Grapes .— It was not with the in¬ 
tention of making an ostentatious display that Mr. 
Colt has done what we have described; but in all 
things he has endeavored to combine utility with 
beauty. There are about 1,000 forest trees already 
set out here in the park, and at least 1,200 pears 
Ground Plan of Roswell House. Fig. 43. 
apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and the smaller 
fruit, aside from a nursery stocked with everything 
choice and of great variety, chosen from abroad as 
well as at home. These will be fully tested in this 
climate, and the result made public for the benefit of 
all, and then a generous distribution of such as are 
worthy of propagation. For the same purpose, also, 
he has planted a part of the terraces with about 
1,000 vines, after the French method. Most of 
these are foreign varieties, and it is intended to accli¬ 
mate them if possible. We are sure that our read¬ 
ers will join with us in saying that ail this is deserv¬ 
ing commendation; for if Mr. C. were disposed to 
sell his fruit, &c., he would ultimately get a hand¬ 
some income from his pleasure grounds. 
When we visited Paterson the grapes were in sea¬ 
son. They had ripened well and proved delicious 
fruit. We found them generally free from mildew. 
Since this, Mr. C. has prepared two acres more for 
grapes, by trenching the ground three feet deep and 
three feet wide, leaving one foot untrenched, so that 
the rows of vines will stand four feet apart. These 
trenches he has manured with bones, old shoes, rags, 
the refuse of the factories, and street dirt. The 
plantings are principally Miller’s Burgundy, black 
Hamburg, chasselas, and sweet water. The trellis is 
made of half inch iron-rod posts, stuck two feet in the 
ground, and rising four feet out. Holes are punched 
in these one foot apart, and iron wires run through 
from post to post. All these are coated with gas tar, 
and will thus last a long time. It makes a light, 
cheap trellis; at the same time, it is sufficiently strong 
for all purposes. 
Hedges. —One of these runs along the roadside, 
formed of the Maclura or Osage Orange. Thus far 
this beautiful native shrub has escaped the attack of 
insects. It grows thriftily, and its verdure is of the 
deepest and thickest kind. We have met this shrub 
in other parts of the United States, and can highly 
recommend it for hedges. 
Mushroom House. —This is a rare addition to the 
conservatory in the United States. That at Mr. 
Colt’s is 50 feet long, and has four tiers of beds five 
feet wide, and running the whole length. These are 
planted with seed brought from France, and bear very 
abundantly nine to ten months out of the year. The 
mushrooms are delicious eating, and usually sell in 
market for 37 cents per quart. They will come into 
bearing one month after planting the seeds. 
Prairie Grouse. —Mr. C. has a few pairs of this 
highly prized game bird recently sent him from New 
Orleans by his son. He will endeavor to domesti¬ 
cate them, and if he succeeds they will prove a rich 
addition to the poultry yard. 
