A short walk from the Nicetown cars brought us to the well-kept grounds of Wm. Bright, Esq. During the past year the improvements have been numerous and extensive; it would take considerable more than civil war to dampen the enthusiasm of its energetic head. Among the new things seen on this occasion were two span-roofed graperies; one about 70 by 24, the other 200 by 14, all finished in the best style, and to be heated with hot water. The houses are, of course, destined to be worked entirely on the inside border system; and whatever may be its advantages or disadvantages, it is always pleasing to find a man practicing what he preaches. Mr. Bright believes that inside borders, made as he describes, will accomplish all that he claims for them; and the best test of his faith is the considerable sum he has invested in the experiment. It is a pleasant place to visit: one always comes away brighter; and if one does not gain information, it must be his own fault, and not that of the proprietor, who is not only ready, but eager to impart information on all subjects pertaining to his line of business.

In an adjoining house, also span-roofed, growing in the inside border, all the new grapes may be seen. Of the Trentham Black Mr. Bright has not a very great opinion; it is a large berry, dark purple color, (when we saw them they were not fully colored,) but thinks it will prove an indifferent keeper. Quite a different opinion has Mr. Bright from Mr. Fox Meadow, as I found by his reply to my interrogatory in the January Gardeners' Monthly, respecting the merits of the Barbarossa. He thinks the Barbarossa will not well bear the restraints of the inside border as well as some of the others. High in his estimation stand the Buckland Sweetwater and the Bowood Muscat. Bidwell's Seedling and Ingraham's Hardy Prolific Muscat are now on their way across the stormy ocean, imported at a heavy outlay expressly for Mr. Bright.

The new graperies to which we have alluded, are all finished in the best style, painted, and glazed with the best glass. The trellis in these houses is original with the proprietor. We would attempt a description, but understand that a full description, with drawings, will shortly appear in a new edition of the Grape book. The success of this book shows Mr. Brigbt's efforts are not unappreciated by the horticultural community; the fact of the book having run through two editions and a third demanded in so short a time, speaks well for its merits. Mr. Bright's pot vines are worth looking at; their culture is here made a specialty, and as much care taken of them as a man would of his children. At this season they are at rest, and carefully tucked away in a very dry cellar, with light and air admitted in fair, favorable weather; they repose quietly until the warm April days, unless sooner demanded for the forcing-pit. Many varieties are cultivated for fruiting, but the principal demand is for Hamburghs and Muscats, with some inquiry for the Frontignan family, and sometimes the late grapes. We were also shown the new vineries built for Mr. Drake and Dr. Moore of Ger-mantown; they are both lean-to houses, with inside detached borders.

They are both costly, but for Mr. Drake's grounds we would have preferred seeing something more ornamental - more in unison with the costly character of the dwelling; however, that may very well come hereafter, when the present building may be well used for an early forcing house. A handsome curvilinear-roofed vinery would embellish the grounds around Mr. Drake's dwelling; and when expense is no object, and very early grapes not sought, this style of building would be particularly appropriate. The other vinery above alluded to has many advantages in point of position, being at the end of the garden, and well protected by a hill. It will make a capital forcing house. A large and ornamental cistern is placed directly in front, thereby insuring an ample supply of soft water.

Mr. Bright's grounds embrace about three acres, and are most judiciously laid out. Here are to be seen some of the finest grown nursery specimens that it has been our good fortune to meet with. Selecting naturally vigorous trees, they have been carefully transplanted when young, and their development allowed without check; at the same time, care has been taken to avoid excessive artificial stimulus. The soil seems naturally well adapted to the growth of the hardy evergreens, and skillful planting has so protected the half hardy by those whose character was before known, that all alike look thrifty and vigorous. The system of pruning adopted at this nursery has much to do with the production of the fine specimens. Many labor under the impression that to use the knife on an evergreen is to ruin it; and the recalling of some Balms of Gilead with some six feet of their lower branches entirely cut off, leaving about four of the top with their grace and beauty for ever gone, forcibly impresses me, that those who have not given the matter some attention had better leave the knife alone. No tree should be pruned unless growing vigorously; I am speaking now, be it remembered, of evergreens, and of pruning with reference to the producing of a fine form.

April or May is the proper season for the knife; and with the Norways, if their leader be entirely removed, and a lower shoot tied up for a new leader, the vigor of the tree is thrown into its lower branches, and a beautiful pyramidal form thereby produced. Not only on the Norway, but also on the white pine is the knife used; and with what a very happy effect, one has only to visit the Logan nursery to observe. Very beautiful, compact Siberian Arbor Vitas are also interspersed among the others, with a great variety of the newer and less known kinds. The trees are usually removed in the spring, and with much care, something of a ball being taken with each; they are then set in their new homes very shallowly, and carefully mulched. They usually receive a little looking after, after leaving the nursery; and that the time spent attending them is profitably employed, many of the well-kept front gardens of Talhehooken street, German-town, will attest. Mr. Bright points with just pride to the many well-grown and handsome specimen trees there placed under his directions and superintendence; and it is certainly much more satisfactory for the future owner of the tree to pay ten dollars for a well-grown, pruned tree, carefully transplanted and guaranteed to grow, than to pay ten cents for the miserable rubbish that one sometimes sees encumbering the grounds of what would otherwise be handsome homes.

Not that I mean to say that Mr. Bright charges ten dollars for his trees, for I never bought a tree of him; but that his trees would be cheaper at high prices than the stunted trash for nothing.

In connection with this subject, I can not help alluding to the impositions practiced by designing nurserymen on the ignorant public; unfortunately to the many, a tree is a tree, and if it have some branches and no roots, why no matter, it is a tree. I have seen on a cold windy March morning - of all times in the year the most unpropitious for the removal of the evergreen family - cart loads of these so-called trees "auctioned" off. Many, it is true, although of some size, brought but the ten cents; but they were very dear even at that price. Farmers, horticultural novices, and others buy these rootless trees, take them home, and devote as much time to planting as they would to a fine tree, then wonder they don't grow, why they have no luck with their trees. Many well-intentioned persons are thereby discouraged, and resolve to never again make such a profitless investment, and horticultural progress is thereby much retarded. Now would the advice reach the ears of those for whom it is intended, (but, unfortunately, it won't,) we would say, go to reliable nurserymen; pay a fair price; trees can't be grown for nothing; move them late in the spring, after the cold March winds are over; see the trees removed yourself, and if a few very fine ones only are desired, take up part of a ball with them; prepare the ground for their reception carefully; give the holes at least double the circumference that you have seen for a tree; then, not going to the subsoil, place the tree with the ball slightly elevated above the surface of the ground; keep the ground around stirred and mulched, during the hot months, and take my word for it, you will not see your tree languish or die.

If only a few strong, quick-growing evergreens are wanted, and especially if the soil be poor, select the Austrian or Scotch Pines. Our evergreeens are more injured by the raw winds than by the intense cold, but the two varieties of pines above mentioned will defy any weather, and will grow on the most exposed situations. Everybody knows that the Norway Fir is perfectly hardy, and improves with age, in this respect contrasting very favorably with the Balsam Fir, which unfortunately often looks shabby with age. The European Silver Fir is another whose hardiness is undoubted; it is a slow grower when young, but after becoming established, oftentimes grows into one of the noblest of trees. The Hemlock although succeeding better in moist soils, grows well on the banks of the Hudson. The Red Cedar, although not often offered by the nurseryman, and of very slow growth, is able to stand any winter; it unfortunately browns at the time when we most desire to see it green. In enumerating, the Arbor Vitas must not be overlooked, and we think by all odds the Siberian has most claims to attention; of the Golden, the less said the better.

The Cedar of Lebanon, to those who desire more of a collection, is thought to be the finest evergreen of Europe.

[We have already expressed our approbation of the neatness of Mr. Bright's well-kept nursery. What is the matter with you and the Golden Arbor Vitae Doctor? - Ed].