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Landscape Gardening | by Andrew Jackson Downing



In the following pages I have attempted to trace out such principles, and to suggest practicable methods of embellishing our rural residences, on a scale commensurate to the views and means of our proprietors. While I have availed myself of the works of European authors, and especially those of Britain, where Landscape Gardening was first raised to the rank of a fine art, I have also endeavored to adapt my suggestions especially to this country and to the peculiar wants of its inhabitants.

TitleLandscape Gardening
AuthorAndrew Jackson Downing
PublisherJohn Wiley & Sons
Year1921
Copyright1921, Frank A. Waugh
AmazonLandscape Gardening
Landscape Gardening.Andrew Jackson Downing.
-Original Preface
A taste for rural improvements of every description is advancing silently, but with great rapidity in this country. While yet in the far west the pioneer constructs his rude hut of logs for a dwelling...
-Preface By The Editor
The present Tenth Edition of Downing's famous Landscape Gardening takes extensive liberties with the original materials, rearranging and recombining them with little regard to their early relationship...
-Chapter I. Historical Sketches
L'un a nos yeux presente D'un dessein regulier l'ordonnancc imposante, Prete aux champs des beautes qu'ils ne connaissaient pas, D'une pompe etrangere embellit leur appas, Donne aux arbres des lois, ...
-Historical Sketches. Continued
Landscape Gardening is, indeed, only a modern word, first coined, we believe, by Shenstone. The most distinguished English landscape gardeners of recent date, are the late Humphrey Repton, who died...
-Woodlands
Woodlands, the seat of the Hamilton family, near Philadelphia, was, so long ago as 1805, highly celebrated for its gardening beauties. The refined taste and the wealth of its accomplished owner, were ...
-Lemon Hill
Lemon Hill, half a mile above the Fairmount water-works of Philadelphia, was, 20 years ago, the most perfect specimen of the geometric mode in America, and since its destruction by the extension of th...
-Waltham House
Waltham House, about nine miles from Boston, was, 25 years ago, one of the oldest and finest places, as regards Landscape Gardening. Its owner, the late Hon. T. Lyman, was a highly-accomplished man, a...
-Hyde Park
Hyde Park, on the Hudson, formerly the seat of the late Dr. Hosack, now of W. Langdon, Esq., has been justly celebrated as one of the finest specimens of the modern style of Landscape Gardening in Ame...
-The Manor Of Livingston
The Manor Of Livingston, lately the seal of Mrs. Mary Livingston (but now of Jacob Le Roy, Esq.), is seven miles east of the city of Hudson. The mansion stands in the midst of a fine park, rising grad...
-Blithewood
Blithewood, formerly the seat of R. Donaldson, Esq., (now John Bard, Esq.), near Barrytown, on the Hudson, is one of the most charming villa residences in the Union. The natural scenery here, is nowhe...
-Montgomery Place
Montgomery Place, the residence of Mrs. Edward Livingston, which is also situated on the Hudson, near Barry-town, deserves a more extended notice than our present limits allow, for it is, as a whole, ...
-Ellerslie
Ellerslie is the seat of William Kelly, Esq.* It is three miles below Rhinebeck. It comprises over six hundred acres, and is one of our finest examples of high keeping and good management, both in an ...
-Wodenethe, Kenwood, The Manor House Of The "Patroon"
Wodenethe Wodenethe, near Fishkill landing, is the seat of II. W. Sargent, Esq., and is a bijou full of interest for the lover of rural beauty; abounding in rare trees, shrubs, and plants, as well ...
-Beaverwyck
Beaverwyck, a little north of Albany, on the opposite bank of the river, was formerly the seat of Wm. P. Van Rensselaer, Esq. The whole estate is ten or twelve miles square, including the village of B...
-The Cottage Residence Of William H. Aspinwall, Esq
The Cottage Residence Of William H. Aspinwall, Esq, on Staten Island, is a highly picturesque specimen of Landscape Gardening. The house is in the English cottage style, and from its open lawn in fron...
-The Seat Of The Wadsworth Family
The Seat Of The Wadsworth Family, at Geneseo, is the finest in the interior of the state of New York. Nothing, indeed, can well be more magnificent than the meadow park at Geneseo. It is more than a t...
-The Environs Of Boston
The Environs Of Boston are more highly cultivated than those of any other city in North America. There are here whole rural neighborhoods of pretty cottages and villas, admirably cultivated, and, in m...
-Pine Bank, The Perkins Estate
Pine Bank, The Perkins Estate, on the border of Jamaica lake, is one of the most beautiful residences near Boston. The natural surface of the ground is exceedingly flowing and graceful, and it is vari...
-The Country Seat Of George Sheaff, Esq
The Country Seat Of George Sheaff, Esq., one of the most remarkable in Pennsylvania, in many respects, is twelve miles north of Philadelphia. The house is a large and respectable mansion of stone, sur...
-Cottage Residence Of Mrs. Camac
This is one of the most agreeable places within a few miles of Philadelphia. The house is a picturesque cottage, in the rural gothic style, with very charming and appropriate pleasure-grounds, compris...
-Stenton
Stenton, near Germantown, four miles from Philadelphia, is a fine old place, with many picturesque features. The farm consists of 700 acres, almost without division fences — admirably managed — and re...
-The Villa Residence Of Alexander Brown, Esq
The Villa Residence Of Alexander Brown, Esq., is situated on the Delaware, a few miles from Philadelphia. There is here a good deal of beauty, in the natural style, made up chiefly by lawn and forest ...
-Chapter II. Beauties And Principles Of The Art
Here Nature in her unaffected dresse, Plaited with vallies and imbost with hills, Enchast with silver streams, and fringed with woods Sits lovely. — Chamberlayne. Il est des soins plus doux, ...
-Beauties And Principles Of The Art. Part 2
To the lover of the fine arts, the name of Claude Lorraine cannot fail to suggest examples of beauty in some of its purest and most simple forms. In the best pictures of this master we see portrayed t...
-Beauties And Principles Of The Art. Part 3
But all nature is not equally Beautiful. Both in living things and in inorganized matter, we see on all sides evidences of nature struggling with opposing forces. Mountains are upheaved by convulsions...
-Beauties And Principles Of The Art. Part 4
* This distinction between the Beautiful and the Picturesque was a favorite idea with Mr. Downing. Artists of the present hour pay small thought to it. To most Landscape Gardeners now it will seem to ...
-Beauties And Principles Of The Art. Part 5
The recognition of art, as Loudon justly observes, is a first principle in Landscape Gardening, as in all other arts; and those of its professors have erred, who supposed that the object of this art i...
-Beauties And Principles Of The Art. Part 6
* This reference to the rolling prairies looks like easy prophecy. In modern times several able men have attempted to define and to create a prairie style in Landscape Gardening. — F. A. W. Besid...
-Chapter III. On Wood And Plantations
He gains all points, who pleasingly confounds, Surprises, varies, and conceals the bounds. Calls in the country, catches opening glades, Joins willing woods, and varies shades from shades; Now breaks...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 2
Plantations In The Ancient Style In the arrangement and culture of trees and plants in the ancient style of Landscape Gardening, we discover the evidences of the formal taste, — abounding with ever...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 3
As uniformity, and grandeur of single effects, were the aim of the old style of arrangement, so variety and harmony of the whole are the results for which we labor in the modern landscape. And as the ...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 4
It is proper that we should here remark, that a distinct species of after treatment is required for the two modes. Trees, or groups, where the Beautiful is aimed at, should be pruned with great care, ...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 5
But in the Picturesque landscape garden there is visible a piquancy of effect, certain bold and striking growths and combinations, which we feel at once, if we know them to be the result of art, to be...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 6
One of the loveliest charms of a fine park is, undoubtedly, variation or undulation of surface. Everything, accordingly, which tends to preserve and strengthen this pleasing character, should be kept ...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 7
Ground Plans Of Ornamental Plantations To illustrate partially our ideas on the arrangement of plantations we place before the reader two or three examples, premising that the small scale to wh...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 8
An excellent illustration of this species of residence is afforded the reader in the accompanying plan (Fig. 14) of the grounds of Riverside Villa. This pretty villa at Burlington, New Jersey (to whic...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 9
From the inspection of plans like these, the tyro may learn something of the manner of arranging plantations, and of the general effect of the natural style in particular cases and situations. But the...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 10
Spiry-topped trees (Fig. 17) are distinguished by straight leading stems and horizontal branches, which are comparatively small, and taper gradually to a point. The foliage is generally evergreen, and...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 11
Conical or oblong-headed trees, when carefully employed, are very effective for purposes of contrast, in conjunction with horizontal lines of buildings such as we see in Grecian or Italian architectur...
-On Wood And Plantations. Part 12
Here we have a group of five trees, which is, in the whole, full of gracefulness and variety, while there is nothing in the composition inharmonious to the practised eye. To illustrate the second c...
-Chapter IV. Treatment Of Ground
——-Strength may wield the ponderous spade, May turn the clod and wheel the compost home; But elegance, chief grace the garden shows, And most attractive, is the fair result Of thought, the creature o...
-Treatment Of Ground. Part 2
The late Mr. Repton, who was one of the most celebrated English practical landscape gardeners, has laid down in one of his works, the following rules on the subject, which we quote, not as applying in...
-Treatment Of Ground. Part 3
Fences are often among the most unsightly and offensive objects in our country seats. Some persons appear to have a passion for subdividing their grounds into a great number of fields; a process which...
-Chapter V. Treatment Of Water
The dale: With woods o'erhung, and shagg'd with mossy rocks, Whence on each hand the gushing waters play, And down the rough cascade white-dashing fall, Or gleam in lengthened vista through the tre...
-Treatment Of Water. Part 2
If, then, the improver will recur to the most beautiful small natural lake within his reach, he will have a subject to study and an example to copy well worthy of imitation. If he examine minutely and...
-Treatment Of Water. Part 3
In arranging these outlines and banks, we should study the effect at the points from which they will generally be viewed. Some pieces of water in valleys, are looked down upon from other and higher pa...
-Treatment Of Water. Part 4
After having arranged the banks, reared up the islands, and completely formed the bed of the proposed lake, the improver will next proceed, at the proper period, to finish his labors by clothing the n...
-Treatment Of Water. Part 5
Natural brooks and rivulets may often be improved greatly by a few trifling alterations and additions, when they chance to come within the bounds of a country residence. Occasionally, they may be dive...
-Chapter VI. Embellishments
Nature, assuming a more lovely face, Borrowing a beauty from the works of grace. Cowper. -Each odorous bushy shrub. Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower; Iris all hues, Roses ...
-Embellishments. Part 2
There can be no reason why the smallest cottage, if its occupant be a person of taste should not have a terrace decorated in a suitable manner.* This is easily and cheaply effected by placing neat flo...
-Embellishments. Part 3
The architectural flower-garden, as we have just remarked, has generally a direct connection with the house, at least on one side by the terrace. It may be of greater or less size, from twenty feet sq...
-Embellishments. Part 4
To illustrate the mode of arranging the beds and disposing the plants in an English garden, we copy the description of the elegant flower-garden, on the lawn at Dropmore, the beds being cut out of the...
-Embellishments. Part 5
The shrubbery is so generally situated in the neighborhood of the flower-garden and the house, that we shall here offer a few remarks on its arrangement and distribution. A collection of flowering ...
-Embellishments. Part 6
Flowering In April 1. Daphne mezereum, the Pink Mezcreum, D. M. album, the white Mezereum. 2. Shepherdia argentea, the Buffalo berry; yellow. 1. Xanthorhiza apiifolia, the parsley-leaved Yell...
-Embellishments. Part 7
The difference between the greenhouse and conservatory is, that in the former, the plants are all kept in pots and arranged on stages, both to meet the eye agreeably, and for more convenient growth; w...
-Embellishments. Part 8
Though a conservatory is often made an expensive luxury, attached only to the better class of residences, there is no reason why cottages of more humble character should not have the same source of en...
-Embellishments. Part 9
A species of useful decoration, which is perhaps more naturally suggested than any other, is the bridge. Where a constant stream, of greater or less size, runs through the grounds, and divides the ban...
-Embellishments. Part 10
In many parts of the country, the secondary blue limestone abounds, which, in the small masses found loose in the woods, covered with mosses and ferns, affords the very finest material for artificial ...
-Embellishments. Part 11
After all that we have said respecting architectural and rustic decorations of the grounds, we must admit that it requires a great deal of good taste and judgment, to introduce and distribute them so ...
-Chapter VII. The Philosophy Of Rural Taste
ALL travellers agree, that while the English people are far from being remarkable for their taste in the arts generally, they are unrivalled in their taste for landscape gardening. So completely is th...
-Chapter VIII. The Beautiful In Ground
WE have sketched, elsewhere, the elements of the beautiful in a tree. Let us glance for a few moments at the beautiful in ground. We may have readers who think themselves not devoid of some taste for ...
-Chapter IX. The Beautiful In A Tree
IN what does the beauty of a tree consist? We mean of course what may strictly be called an ornamental tree, not a tree planted for its fruit in the orchard, or growing for timber in the forest, but s...
-Chapter X. On The Drapery Of Cottages And Gardens
OUR readers very well know that, in the country, whenever any thing especially tasteful is to be done, when a church is to be dressed for Christmas, a public hall festooned for a fair, or a salon de...
-On The Drapery Of Cottages And Gardens. Part 2
What are our favorite vines? This is what you would ask of us, and this is what we are most anxious to tell you; as we see, already, that no sooner will the spring open, than you will immediately se...
-On The Drapery Of Cottages And Gardens. Part 3
And now, having glanced at the best of the climbers and twiners, properly so called (all of which need a little training and supporting), let us take a peep at those climbing shrubs that seize hold of...
-Chapter XI. A Few Hints On Landscape Gardening
NOVEMBER is, above all others, the tree-planting month over the wide Union.† Accordingly, every one who has a rood of land looks about him at this season to see what can be done to improve and embelli...
-Chapter XII. Hints To Rural Improvers
ONE of the most striking proofs of the progress of refinement in the United States is the rapid increase of taste for ornamental gardening and rural embellishment in all the older portions of the nort...
-Hints To Rural Improvers. Part 2
The first error lies in supposing that good taste is a natural gift, which springs heaven-born into perfect existence — needing no cultivation or improvement. The second is in supposing that taste alo...
-Hints To Rural Improvers. Part 3
Among these places, those which enjoy the highest reputation, are Montgomery Place, the seat of Mrs. Edward Livingston, Blithewood, the seat of R. Donaldson, Esq., and Hyde Park, the seat of W. Langdo...
-Chapter XIII. On The Mistakes Of Citizens In Country Life
NO one loves the country more sincerely or welcomes new devotees to the worship of its pure altars more warmly than ourselves. To those who bring here hearts capable of understanding the lessons of tr...
-On The Mistakes Of Citizens In Country Life. Part 2
Now a word or two, touching the second source of evil in country life, — undertaking too much. There is, apparently, as much fascination in the idea of a large landed estate as in the eye of a serp...
-On The Mistakes Of Citizens In Country Life. Part 3
What most retired citizens need in country life are objects of real interest, society, occupation. We place first, something of permanent interest; for, after all, this is the great desideratum. Al...
-Chapter XIV. On Citizens Retiring To The Country
IN another essay we offered a few words to our readers on the subject of choosing a country seat. As the subject was only slightly touched upon we propose to say something more regarding it now. Th...
-On Citizens Retiring To The Country. Continued
Everything which a citizen does in the country, costs him an incredible sum. In Europe (heaven save the masses), you may have the best of laboring men for twenty or thirty cents a day. Here you must p...
-Chapter XV. How To Choose A Site For A Country Seat
HOW to choose the site for a country house is a subject now occupying the thoughts of many of our countrymen, and therefore is not undeserving a few words from us at the present moment. The greater...
-How To Choose A Site For A Country Seat. Continued
Those, therefore, who wish to start with the advantage of a good patrimony from nature will prefer to examine what mother Earth has to offer them in her choicest nooks before they determine on taking ...
-Chapter XVI. How To Arrange Country Places
HOW to lay out a country place? That is a question about which we and our readers might have many a long conversation, if we could be brought on familiar terms, colloquially speaking, with all parts o...
-How To Arrange Country Places. Continued
After having disposed of the useful and indispensable portions of the place, by placing them in the spots at once best fitted for them at least interfering with the convenience and beauty of the remai...
-Chapter XVII. The Management Of Large Country Places
COUNTRY places that may properly be called ornamental † are increasing so fast, especially in the neighborhood of the large cities, that a word or two more touching their treatment will not be looked ...
-Chapter XVIII. Country Places In Autumn
NOVEMBER, which is one of the least interesting months to those who come into the country to admire the freshness of spring or the fulness of summer and early autumn, is one of the most interesting to...
-Chapter XIX. The Neglected American Plants
IT is an old and familiar saying that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and as we were making our way this spring through a dense forest in the State of New Jersey, we were tem...
-Chapter XX. A Word In Favor Of Evergreens
WHAT is the reason, said an intelligent European horticulturist to us lately, that the Americans employ so few evergreens in their ornamental plantations? Abroad they are the trees most sought afte...
-A Word In Favor Of Evergreens. Continued
Besides it bears transplanting particularly well, and is, on this account also, more generally seen than any other species in Our ornamental plantations. Bill its especial merit as an ornamental tree ...
-Chapter XXI. Hints On Flower Gardens
WE are once more unlocked from the chilling embraces of the Ice-King! April, full of soft airs, balm-dropping showers, and fitful gleams of sunshine, brings life and animation to the millions of embry...
-Chapter XXII. A Chapter On Roses
AFRESH bouquet of midsummer roses stands upon the table before us. The morning dew-drops hang heavy as emeralds, upon branch and buds; soft and rich colors delight the eye with their lovely hues, and ...
-A Chapter On Roses. Continued
The ambitious inhabitants of the land, watered by the Nile, have sent thee, O Caesar, the roses of winter, as a present, valuable for its novelty. But the boatman of Memphis will laugh at the gardens...
-Half A Dozen Bourbon Roses
Souvenir De Malmaison Souvenir De Malmaison, pale flesh color. Paul Joseph Paul Joseph, purplish crimson. Hermosa Hermosa, deep rose. Queen Queen, delicate fawn color. Dupetit ...
-Half A Dozen China Roses
Mrs. Bosanquet Mrs. Bosanquet, exquisite pale flesh color. Madame Breon Madame Breon, rose. Eugene Beauharnais Eugene Beauharnais, bright crimson. Clara Sylvain Clara Sylvain, pur...
-Chapter XXIII. A Talk With Flora And Pomona
WE beg leave to inform such of our readers as may be interested, that we have lately had the honor of a personal interview with the distinguished deities that preside over the garden and the orchard, ...
-A Talk With Flora And Pomona. Continued
These last words, we confess, startled us so much, that we opened our eyes rather widely, and called upon the name of Dr. Van Mons, the great Belgian — spoke of the gratitude of the pomological world,...
-Chapter XXIV. Influence Of Horticulture
THE multiplication of horticultural societies is taking place so rapidly of late, in various parts of the country, as to lead one to reflect somewhat on their influence, and that of the art they foste...
-Chapter XXV. On Feminine Taste In Rural Affairs
WHAT a very little fact sometimes betrays the national character; and what an odd thing this national character is! Look at a Frenchman. He eats, talks, lives in public. He is only happy when he has s...
-On Feminine Taste In Rural Affairs. Part 2
Does any one, familiar with the progress of building in the United States for the last ten years, desire to be told which mode we have followed? And yet, there are very few who are aware that our love...
-On Feminine Taste In Rural Affairs. Part 3
A short hour after this brought us into another relation; for the dinner bell summoned us, and this same lady was found presiding over a brilliant circle of the highest rank and fashion, with an ease...
-On Feminine Taste In Rural Affairs. Part 4
We buy our wives with our fortunes, or we sell ourselves to them for their dowries. The American chooses her, or rather he offers himself to her for her beauty, her intelligence, and the qualities of...
-Chapter XXVI. A Spring Gossip
TF any man feels no joy in the spring, then has he no warm blood in his veins! So said one of the old dramatists, two hundred years ago; and so we repeat his very words in this month of May, eighte...
-A Spring Gossip. Continued
Spring, in this country, is not the tedious jade that she is in England, — keeping one waiting from February till June, while she makes her toilet, and fairly puts her foot on the daisy-spangled turf....
-Chapter XXVII. Economy In Gardening
MR. COLMAN, in his Agricultural Tour,† remarks, that his observations abroad convinced him that the Americans are the most extravagant people in the world; and the truth of the remark is corroborated ...
-Chapter XXVIII. A Chapter On Lawns
LANDSCAPE GARDENING embraces, in the circle of its perfections many elements of beauty certainly not a less number than the modern chemists count as the simplest conditions of matter. But with somethi...
-A Chapter On Lawns. Continued
The most essential point being a deep soil, we need not say that in our estimation any person about to lay down a permanent lawn, whether of fifty acres or fifty feet square, must provide himself agai...
-Chapter XXIX. Treatment Of Lawns
AS a lawn is the ground-work of a landscape garden, and as the management of a dressed grass surface is still a somewhat ill-understood subject with us, some of our readers will, perhaps, be glad to r...
-Chapter XXX. Transplanting Of Trees
THERE is no subject on which the professional horticulturist is more frequently consulted in America, than transplanting trees. And, as it is an essential branch of Landscape Gardenings—indeed, perhap...
-Transplanting Of Trees. Part 2
Any one who is at all familiar with the growth of trees in woods or groves somewhat dense, is also aware of the great difference in the external appearance between such trees and those which stand sin...
-Transplanting Of Trees. Part 3
The object of departing from the square, or round form, is to introduce the growing fibres of the young trees into the firm and poor soil, by degrees, and not all at once, as in the round or square-ho...
-Chapter XXXI. Our Country Villages
WITHOUT any boasting it may safely be said that the natural features of our common country (as the speakers in Congress call her) are as agreeable and prepossessing as those of any other land, whether...
-Our Country Villages. Part 2
We have in a former number said something as to the practical manner in which graceless villages may be improved. We have urged the force of example in those who set about improving their own proper...
-Our Country Villages. Part 3
In this way, we would secure to our village a permanent rural character; first, by the possession of a large central space always devoted to park or pleasure ground and always held as joint property a...
-Chapter XXXII. On The Improvement Of Country Villages
IF you or any man of taste wish to have a fit of the blues let him come to the village of---. I have just settled here; and all my ideas of rural beauty have been put to flight by what I see around ...
-On The Improvement Of Country Villages. Continued
It is both surprising and pleasant to one accustomed to watch the development of the human soul to see the gradual but certain effect of building one really good and tasteful house in a graceless vill...
-Chapter XXXIII. Shade-Trees In Cities
DOWN with the ailanthus! is the cry we hear on all sides, town and country, now that this tree of heaven (as the catalogues used alluringly to call it) has penetrated all parts of the Union, and be...
-Shade-Trees In Cities. Continued
And while in the vein, we would include in the same category another less fashionable, but still much petted foreigner, that has settled among us with a good letter of credit, but who deserves not his...
-Chapter XXXIV. Trees In Towns And Villages
THE man who loves not trees, to look at them, to lie under them, to climb up them (once more a schoolboy), would make no bones of murdering Mrs. Jeffs. In what one imaginable attribute that it ought t...
-Trees In Towns And Villages. Continued
In some parts of Germany the government makes it a duty for every landholder to plant trees in the highways before his property; and in a few towns that we have heard of no young bachelor can take a w...
-Chapter XXXV. On Planting Shade Trees
NOW that the season of the present is nearly over; now that spring with its freshness of promise, summer with its luxury of development, and autumn with its fulfilment of fruitfulness, have all laid t...
-Chapter XXXVI. How To Popularize The Taste For Planting
HOW to popularize that taste for rural beauty which gives to every beloved home in the country its greatest outward charm and to the country itself its highest attraction is a question which must ofte...
-How To Popularize The Taste For Planting. Continued
The second means is by what the nurserymen may do. We are very well aware that the first thought which will cross the mind of a selfish and narrow-minded nurseryman (if any such read the foregoing ...
-Chapter XXXVII. Public Cemeteries And Public Gardens
ONE of the most remarkable illustrations of the popular taste in this country is to be found in the rise and progress of our rural cemeteries. Twenty years ago nothing better than a common graveyard, ...
-Public Cemeteries And Public Gardens. Continued
But this is not all; as if to show how far human infirmity can go, we noticed lately several lots in one of these cemeteries, not only inclosed with a most barbarous piece of irony, but the gate of wh...
-Chapter XXXVIII. The New York Park
THE leading topic of town gossip and newspaper paragraphs just now in New York is the new park proposed by Mayor Kingsland. Deluded New York has until lately contented itself with the little dooryards...
-The New York Park. Continued
Looking at the present government of the city as about to provide, in the People's Park, a breathing zone and healthful place for exercise for a city of half a million of souls, we trust they will not...
-Appendix I. List Of Roses
List of Roses recommended by Prof. A. G. Beal, for New York and the Northeastern states (Bailey's Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture; V: 3009). See page 261. Hybrid Perpetual Alfred Colomb, A. ...
-Appendix II. Memoir
ANDREW JACKSON DOWNING was born at New-burgh, upon the Hudson, on the spot where he always lived and which he always loved more than any other, on the 30th of October, 1815. His father and mother were...
-Memoir. Part 2
He, too, had been hoping to go to college; but the family means forbade. His mother, anxious to see him early settled, urged him, as his elder brothers were both doing well in business — the one as a ...
-Memoir. Part 3
He wrote, then, a discussion of novel-reading, and some botanical papers, which were published in a Boston journal. Whether he was discouraged by the ill success of these attempts, or perceived that h...
-Memoir. Part 4
Summer lay warm upon the hills and river; the landscape was yet untouched by the scorching July heats; and on the seventh of June, 1838, — he being then in his twenty-third year, — Downing was married...
-Memoir. Part 5
The quiet, thoughtful, and reserved boy of the Montgomery Academy had thus suddenly displayed the talent which was not suspected by his school-fellows. The younger partner had now justified the expe...
-Memoir. Part 6
Here we sat and conversed. Our host entered into every subject gayly and familiarly, with an appreciating deference to differences of opinion, and an evident tenacity of his own, all the while, which ...
-Memoir. Part 7
Within his house it was easy to understand that the home was so much the subject of his thought. Why did he wish that the landscape should be lovely, and the houses graceful and beautiful, and the fru...
-Memoir. Part 8
But this composure, this reticence, this leisurely air, were all imposed upon his manner by his regal will. He was under the most supreme self-control. It was so absolute as to deprive him of spontane...
-Memoir. Part 9
So, certainly, I believe, as the May days passed, and found me still lingering in the enchanted garden. In August, 1846, The Horticulturist was commenced by Mr. Luther Tucker, of Albany, who invi...
-Memoir. Part 10
In this year he finally resolved to devote himself entirely to architecture and building, and, in order to benefit by the largest variety of experience in elegant rural life, and to secure the service...
-Memoir. Part 11
Mr. Downing was annoyed by this continual carping and bickering, and anxious to have the matter definitely arranged, he requested the President to summon the Cabinet. The Secretaries assembled, and Mr...
-Memoir. Part 12
I was gone before he reached home again, but, with many who wished to consult him about houses they were building, and with many whom he honored and wished to know, awaited his promised visit at Newpo...
-Memoir. Part 13
In the afternoon, they brought him home, and laid him in his library. A terrific storm burst over the river and crashed among the hills, and the wild sympathy of nature surrounded that blasted home. B...
-Appendix III. To The Memory Of Andrew Jackson Downing
By Frank A. Waugh. NEWBURGH has fine parks. It is surrounded by the most ingratiating natural landscape. In the foreground flows one of the noblest and most beautiful of all the rivers of the world...
-To The Memory Of Andrew Jackson Downing. Continued
His architectural work was of very considerable consequence. While undoubtedly it represents that part of his thought which has proved of least worth to us in our generation, yet it was credited in it...







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