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- 
