will stand the climate of the Eastern States, although the first is a native of Georgia. Lycestèria formosa, with its numerous racemes of white flowers, succeeded by small purplish fruit, is a Nepal shrub, which we should be glad to see tried in our climate; it is very ornamental. Two fine species of Pyrus were P. pinnatifida and P. serótinus: Aràlia japónica Siebold, is a fine showy species. Passing round the ground, we entered the range of houses, upwards of 300 feet long, and filled with plants. It is placed in the centre of the garden, and is screened on the backside, by a belt of shrubs and trees. The most showy objects at this season, were the fuchsias, some of which were ten feet high. The following is a list of what we saw here:-F. corymbiflòra, four feet high, with spikes of flowers a foot long: globosa, four feet high, stem an inch through at the base, superbly in flower, and a perfect specimen of beauty; few of the new ones excel this when well grown: fúlgens, ten feet high: Venus Victrix, two feet: triumphans, three feet: F. rádicans, with very large, broad foliage, a distinct species: fúlgens multiflora, with dense racemes of fine flowers, sepals narrow, petals violet crimson: cónica, eight feet high, and of a pendant habit, the branches clothed with thousands of flowers: élegans, six feet high, and fine. These plants had been watered with guano, and, by repeated shiftings, some of them had been grown to an immense size in two years. The growth of the camellias, in the camellia house, surprized us; the vigor of the plants, and at the same time, the smallness of the pots, exceeding any we ever saw; some of the current year's shoots were twenty inches long, and proportionally stout; the pots one foot in diameter, and the plants eight to ten feet high. This great vigor, Mr. Shepherd informed us, was attributable to guano; the plants had had two waterings with it, one at the time they commenced to grow, and the other when they had completed it and begun to show their buds. Mr. Shepherd has tried many experiments with this new fertilizer. Passing into the miscellaneous department of plants we saw a fine specimen of Lilium lancifolium punctàtum in bloom; also a new plant, Habrothamnus fasciculàtus. The orchideous house and the other plants all looked in fine condition. The keeping of the garden was quite to our idea of what it should be. The turf was of the richest verdure, (which in our climate can perhaps never be equalled, though it may be far superior to what is generally seen) closely shaven, and so firm as to have the appearance of having been laid down more than eight years. The walks were full of gravel, hard and well rolled, and the edges of the turf not disfigured by a deep raw cut. The dug beds for plants were all slightly raised in the centre, and not a weed was to be seen, the whole surface being smooth and neat, without the appearance of having just been freshly raked. These are points of management which have long been advocated by the late Mr. Loudon, and many places which we visited, showed that his efforts were successful. Mr. H. Shepherd, the curator, is a botanist as well as a successful cultivator, and the pleasure of our visit was greatly enhanced by the attentions which he showed us. Chester, Aug. 15th.-This old town is situated about fifteen miles from Liverpool, and is easy of access, by rail-road, from Birkenhead, on the opposite side of the river Mersey. The country between Liverpool and Chester is not highly cultivated, and as it was the first visit we had made into the interior, the impression it made on us was unfavorable. The hedges were unpruned and straggling, and vegetation had not that vigorous appearance we had expected to find. we approached Chester, we passed through an extensive nursery, which we ascertained to be that of Messrs. F. & J. Dickson, and which we afterwards visited. Chester is the only town in England around which there is now standing a complete wall; we were desirous to walk round it, but were prevented from want of time. Eaton Hall. The day was at the meridian when we arrived at Chester, and we immediately procured a conveyance to Eaton Hall, the residence of the Marquis of Westminster. The park gate is but little more than a mile distant from the town, though it is nearly four miles to the house. Just beyond the old wall we crossed the beautiful river Dee, on a bridge of a single arch, and in a few minutes were before the entrance to the park avenue. This is a splendid gate and lodge in the Gothic style, and its imposing character at once gives an impression of what is to be expected. We proceeded along the avenue, which sweeps in broad curves through verdant turf, bounded on each side by dense plantations of trees and shrubs, among which the laurel and the rhododendron are most conspicuous. A distance of more than two miles brought us to the park. Here we entered through a grand portal yet more highly enriched than the first, but in the same style; and now passing along another avenue, winding through glades of turf, and picturesque groups of trees, we reached the lawn front, where, through the masses of foliage, a glimpse is caught of the house itself. Our first object was a view of this gorgeous Gothic mansion; and although our expectations were highly raised, we were not disappointed; nothing could surpass its elaborate finish, or the harmony of its arrangement. It is built in the florid style of the fourteenth century, and in the richness of its details is perhaps not surpassed. Its only fault is the redundance of ornament. It was commenced in 1803 and finished in 1825, and cost, as we were informed, upwards of 1,000,000 pounds sterling, (five millions of dollars.) The neatness and splendor of the interior, corresponds with the exterior of this costly mansion. The Eaton Hall is situated on an almost level spot of ground, and although the demesne covers an immense number of acres, for several miles, there is no distant view to be obtained. Beyond the house, the pleasure ground, the lawn and the park, there is nothing to attract the attention of a stranger. garden front opens on to a terrace, which leads to the pleasure ground; this is laid out with three broad parallel walks, and one cross walk, the turf being varied by groups of shrubs and trees. On the terrace, which is not sufficiently architectural to correspond with the house, were planted beds of verbenas, petunias, mignonette, and other flowers, among which was the Lupinus nànus; this pretty dwarf species is admirably adapted for beds, and the great profusion of its spikes of blue and white flowers renders it a most desirable ornament for this purpose. An hour was passed in viewing the interior of the palace; but it is not our intention to occupy room with a description. After taking a last view of its magnificent front, we turned our steps to the garden. If our expectations were more than realized in the house, they were not so with the garden. Several acres are enclosed within the wall, but the ranges of houses for plants were not extensive, nor the collection of plants large; a conservatory less than one hundred feet in length, was nearly all that was devoted to plants. In this we saw Achimenes longiflora, grandiflòra, pedunculata, and ròsea, in full bloom, the first and second in large pots ten inches across, and producing hundreds of their splendid flowers which are highly ornamental at this season of the year; pedunculata had just commenced blooming: ròsea is not as showy as the others, but its delicate rosy blossoms entitle it to a place in a collection. We saw here for the first time, in anything like perfection, the Lilium lancifolium rùbrum, grown four feet high, with ten or twelve of its most gorgeous flowers expanded. L. lancifolium álbum was also blooming in equal perfection, but though extremely delicate and beautiful, not of that showy character as the rùbrum. Several kinds of fuschias were in flower, but as night was drawing near, we had not time to take their names. We passed rapidly through the forcing garden, looking at the pine pits, vineries, forcing houses, &c. The grapes of the late houses were just ripening, and a great number of pines were swelling off; but we saw nothing remarkable to note down. The Marquis of Westminster resides here only a short time in the autumn, and a great portion of the fruit is given away by order of the noble proprietor. Our correspondent, Mr. J. W. Russell, was for four or five years, employed at this place, under its former gardener, Mr. Duff. As a It was our intention to visit Eaton Hall again, on our return to Liverpool, in order that we might have another look of the garden, but this we were compelled to give up, as we found other places which possessed more interest. specimen of the florid style of architecture applied to the purposes of a dwelling, we would advise any of our friends who may ever visit Liverpool, not to omit to see Eaton Hall. Few other English residences have been oftener visited by Americans than this, and few afford more gratification. (To be continued.) ART. II. Progress of Horticulture in Indiana. I AM induced to send you some remarks upon the condition of things in this State, in Horticultural matters, from observing your disposition to make your magazine, not merely a record of specific processes, and a register of plants and fruits, but also a chronicle of the yearly progress and condition of the Horticultural art. I should be glad if I could in any degree thus repay the pleasure which others have given me through your numbers, by reciprocal efforts. Horticultural Society's Fair.-This is held annually, on the 4th and 5th of October. Experience has shown that it should be earlier; for, although a better assortment of late fruits, in which, hitherto, we have chiefly excelled, is secured, it is at the expense of small fruits and flowers. The floral exhibition was meagre-the frost having already visited and despoiled our gardens. The chief attraction, as, in an agricultural community, it must long continue to be, was the exhibition of fruit. My recollection of New England fruits, after an absence of more than ten years, is not distinct; but my impression is, that so fine a collection of fruits could scarcely be shown there. The luxuriance of the peach, the plum, the pear and the apple, is such, in this region, as to afford the most perfect possible specimens. The vigor of fruit trees, in such a soil and under a heaven so congenial, produces fruits which are very large without being coarse-fleshed; the flavor concentrated, and the color very high. It is the constant remark of emigrants from the east, that our apples surpass those to which they have been accustomed. Many fruits which I remember in Connecticut as light-colored, appear with us almost refulgent. All summer and early fallapples were gone before our exhibition; but between seventy and a hundred varieties of winter apples were exhibited. We never expect to see finer. Our most popular winter apples are: Yellow Bellflower; White Bellflower; [called Detroit by the gentlemen of Cincinnati Horticultural Society,but for reasons which are not satisfactory to my mind. What has become of the White Bellflower of Coxe, if this is not it?] |