Mr. HunneweD, like Mr, Sargent, seems to be a "tree-taster" for American planters, and as such deserves the public gratitude.

Returning from this portion of the grounds - which would reward the study of several days - we approach the open lawn, and looking across it at its greatest length, observe several fine vistas or openings between groups and scattered trees. This lawn is, after all, the most impressive feature of the whole establishment. About eight acres in extent, evenly graded, the grass a bright green, fine and compact in texture, and neatly shorn and rolled, what could be asked more? The trees set here and there, singly and in groups, are well-chosen specimens of their several kinds.

Crossing now to the fruit and vegetable gardens, and graperies, we find every thing conducted on the same liberal scale. Not only pears and plums, but nectarines, peaches, Royal Muscadines and Black Hamburghs, seem as abundant as the apples of the farmer's orchard.

But the hour for the return train to the city approaches, and we reluctantly leave this beautiful residence, rejoicing that such ample means are controlled by such intelligence and such pure and elevated taste.

Not the least attraction among the gardens around the modern Athens, is the nursery establishment of the Messrs. Hovey, at Cambridge. The horse-railroad set us down within a few minutes' walk of the grounds, which cover several acres on opposite sides of the street. On the one side, are the famous avenues of pear trees, of which every horticultural reader has heard more or less, for the past fifteen years. Here are between 2,500 and 3,000 specimen trees, comprising every known and desirable variety, native and foreign. They were not all of them such perfect pyramids in form as we had expected to see, but they were remarkably healthy and productive. At the time of our visit, many of them were loaded with fruit; from others it had already been gathered and sold in Boston market.

And have you any secret method for raising pears so successfully? we asked one of the proprietors, as we walked among the bending trees. " None whatever," said he;" no methods besides those we openly teach, and which are well understood by all sensible horticulturists. Of course, occasional failures will happen, under the best management, but with good trees to start with, followed up by good culture, every body can raise pears, both standard and dwarf".

The fruit department being hastily glanced at, we passed on to the more ornamental portions. Such a display of Asters we never saw before, of almost every color and shade; some as large as dahlias, and nearly as double, others as small and as perfectly formed as the finest pompone chrysanthemum. It is no wonder that the Aster, in its many varieties, is becoming the most popular of fall blooming annuals.

Here we had our first satisfactory view of the new arbor vitas, styled Thuja Hoveyu It is an accidental seedling which sprang up in these grounds among a multitude of plants raised from seeds of the native arbor vitae. The foliage is nearly or quite as delicate as that of Thuja aurea; it is laid in the same flat plaits or folds, upright and compact together, and has the same golden tinge. While it is as dense and as hardy as the Siberian, it is much more refined and beautiful.

It pleased us to observe in these grounds the beginnings of a Pinetum, which, with the large facilities for obtaining trees at command of the proprietors, must soon become the repository of every conifer hardy in this climate.

Crossing to the other side of the street, and passing up a broad avenue swept by tall Norways and Hemlocks, we entered the lawn. This is not large, but is well made, skillfully planted, and admirably kept. A walk running in flowing lines near the boundaries - which latter, by the way, are concealed by hedges and shrubbery - gives one an opportunity to examine in detail many trees, shrubs, and plants of great beauty. Of these, we can now recall only the purple-leaved and Norway Maples, the Virgilea lutea, Fountain Willow, cut-leaved Oak, weeping Elms, fine Hemlocks and Junipers. Here, too, were some of the newer evergreens, such as Cupressus Lawsoniana, Thuiopsis borealis, Pinus pyrenaica, and several others. Here, also, were rare exotio plants in pots plunged to the rim, giving quite a luxuriant and tropical air to the place. But the lawn itself attracted our special admiration; so smooth, so soft, so elastic to the tread, it was a real luxury to walk upon it. And coming, as we had so recently done, from Mr. Hunnewell's magnificent expanses upon this little gem of perhaps half an acre, we admired it all the more.

It was of such dimensions as almost every country gentleman of moderate means might reasonably devote to his lawn, and it showed how much beauty could be had in so small a compass.

Of the floral department we must speak briefly, our visit being quite short. Among the specialties, the Japan Lilies and Gladioli were quite noticeable. Of the former, there was a fine collection, not only of the old rubrum, album, and speciosum but of six or eight seedlings produced here by hybridizing the Japan sorts with our native species. The result has been a lot of hardier plants, with handsomer foliage, and, in some instances, superior beauty Of the flower. The one named Melpomene struck us as particularly fine. Of the newer Gladioli, the collection was large and very good: the flowers crimson, yellow, scarlet, white, pink, and of other shades and with curious markings. Here, too, were Rhodo- | dendrona and Azaleas, in vigorous health, the peaty and sandy soil of one part of the grounds being well adapted to their wants.

But we must close these rambling sketches, attempting only a glance at the more noticeable features of this establishment. The record we have made is as unsatisfactory to our own eye, as it will perhaps be to the polite proprietor who waited upon us.

[One word of thanks, Mr. Gridley, for your interesting and instructive sketch. We must express our regret, too, that a gentleman of such refined taste, and wielding such a polished pen, should not oftener employ it in the cause of Horticulture. - Ed].