The Baltimore County Union

Chestnut Hill Views.-W. F. Massey, of Waverley, writes an entertaining letter, under the above head, to The American Farmer for October, from which we make some extracts, as follows:

"Just within hearing of the roar of the city, yet sufficiently in the country to be lulled to sleep by the voice of the katydid; elevated above the city higher than the top of Washington's monument, yet sheltered from the cold northwest winds by a grove of grand old oaks and chestnuts, while to the southward the city and the broad Patapsco are in full sight, we claim some pretty views for Chestnut Hill. Still, in these articles, we propose not so much to tell about the views of the distant landscape, though they are grand enough to write much about, but to tell of those nearer views which one is always getting whose occupation leads him into close communion with the beauties of Nature as displayed in flower, fruit and plant. If what we see in these views may induce others to inquire more closely into the cause when we have only time to see the effect and note it, we shall be fully rewarded. There are some queer people even in the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, as we have lately had reason to observe. Yesterday we drove past a beautiful house, large, roomy and picturesque. Around it were several acres of lawn. That was all. Not a tree, not a shrub nor flower, not even a vine on the several handsome piazzas--literally nothing but an acre or two of land. It was not a new place, or we could have understood it. The house was at least ten years old. And yet in the immediate neighborhood, Florists and Nurserymen are counted by the dozen. This is one of the most remarkable places in Baltimore county. We don't know who lives there and don't wish to, as we think the man who can live in the country with plenty of space about him and not grow a plant of any kind is hardly worth knowing. This is an extreme case, however, as the suburbs of Baltimore abound in beautiful country-seats, where everything rare and handsome in flowers and foliage is lavishly planted and well cared for. Everywhere about Baltimore the influence of our new Horticultural Society can already be plainly traced in the rapid increase in horticultural taste. New greenhouses seem to be the order of the day, and many amateurs are developing rare ability in the culture of fine plants under glass. We refer more particularly to those whose greenhouses are cared for by the proprietor and his family. In one family I know of it is interesting to see the competition between the boys of the household in propagating and growing plants. We know nothing more effectual for keeping boys "out of mischief" than a greenhouse and flower garden."