A brief visit to the three above-named places of interest up the Hudson, was enjoyed during the past season.

At Iona - a rocky isle of about three hundred acres, near the west shore of the Hudson, two miles above Peckskill - I found Dr. Grant most industriously employed in the cultivation of his grapes. He has with skill and vast labor brought the forty acres of tillable land on the island to a very high state of cultivation, and covered it with vineyards and orchards of the choicest grapes, apples, pears, cherries, plums, and other fruits.

Deep trenching, thorough pulverization of the soil, mixtures of compost, leaf-mold and muck, have accomplished wonders. Dr. Grant is well known as a most intelligent and enthusiastic cultivator of grapes. He has not only vast numbers of vines, of most all the varieties of hardy grapes in bearing; but his activity in the way of propagation astonished me. For instance, he has more than ten thousand plants of the popular Delaware grape, that are No. 1, with growths of from six to ten feet this season. Then follow as many more of not quite so mature growth and age. He has besides, an unusual stock of Allen's New Hybrid, which the doctor thinks will prove to be the best white grape; thus rivalling the Rebecca. Then follow the Anna, Clara, and various new seedlings, some of which promise well. All were in fine condition.

From thence I proceeded on a long desired visit to Pelham, the well known country seat of Robert L. Pell, Esq., the successor of General James Tallmadge as President of the American Institute.

Pelham is situated on the west shore of the noble Hudson, stretching along its shores for nearly three miles, comprising a princely estate of twelve hundred acres. Here I saw, what was most nearly my ideal of those magnificent English estates of which we read.

Long, persevering, intelligent labor, with ample means, has brought these fair acres up to the thorough high-culture or the best garden, and the returns now, I should judge, abundantly repay the outlay.

Thorough drainage by nearly 100 miles of stone drains; deep tillage, from eighteen inches to three feet; with all the manure needed, intelligently and timely applied, has done the work. Two hundred acres and over of large, flourishing Newtown Pippin apple-trees, said to number more than 20,000 bearing trees, was one of the sights. Eighty acres of potatoes in full vigor, of one variety, his early seedling, with rows three-fourths of a mile in length, were worth seeing.

The acres of grape vineyards, of raspberries and strawberries, all cultivated in the best manner; the thorough-bred horses and cattle, and the most costly sheep, all well cared for and thriving, were truly pleasant to behold.

It was delightful to ramble over a part of the nine miles of gravel walks in the spacious lawns and park. It was a rare treat to examine the nine beautiful fish-ponds and the fifty varieties of choice fish raised there; to see the fish come on call to the banks where we were standing, and eat the bread offered them, running boldly through and over our hands by the thousands; young shad, gold fish, and other kinds, feeding as tamely as if a treaty of peace was signed, sealed and recorded between us.

But I dare tell no more of Pelham at this time, and will drop down to Wodenethe, the splendid country seat of H. W. Sargent, Esq., near Fish-kill. Here we found a tasteful and elegant mansion, with some twenty-five acres of the most highly ornamented lawns and gardens.

Enterprise, skill, taste, and wealth, have probably here gathered the largest and finest collection of evergreens of which our country can boast. It is barely possible that there may be one exception. It was gratifying to walk over these grounds and feast on the rare varieties, and thorough training of the plants. Hundreds are worthy of honorable mention, but I do not propose to enumerate more than a few. Some exquisite specimens of Araucaria excelsa, Torreya taxifolia, Cryptomeria Japonica, Glyphos-trobus pendula, Abies Monstrosa, fern-leaved Arbor Vitae, and the variegated cedars, particularly attracted attention.

The specimens also of variegated cut-leaved oak, ash, beech, and horse-chestnut, were very fine.

I also noticed the striped green and plain green Century plants, (Aloe,) the largest size and in the best possible condition. The same may be said of the Sago and other varieties of the palm. A house of liberal proportions is now in process of erection expressly for these palm-trees to luxuriate in.

The thousands of plants in the numerous borders of the magnificent Rhododendrons, Ericas, and Hollys, including fifty varieties of the former and eighteen of the latter, and the weeping variety, excited particular interest.

In the borders were scores of young peach, nectarine, and plum-trees, scarcely more than three feet high, but heavily laden with the brightest colored, fair and delicious flavored fruit. These dwarf trees, scarcely as large in the stem as your small finger, were cultivated in large earthen pots, forced in the vinery and orchard house, so as now to bear the fruit at maturity sunk in the open border partly shaded.

My notice was also attracted to several vines of the Wistaria Sinensis now in fair blossom. It has so generally and so unusually declined to blossom in my neighborhood this year, that I was pleased to observe them.

Wodenethe is admirably sheltered by trees and shrubbery, so that I should fear that Mr. Sargent's valuable experiments as to the hardiness of the new varieties might not always be conclusive, except with similar cul- tivation and protection.

For instance, large specimens of the Chili Pine are here which had remained out, in warm locations, for several winters, but the soil was light; I fear that high cultivation would have made the wood too tender, even there. The thermometer undoubtedly sinks very low every winter, so far north, and therefore the reports of experiences at Wodenethe are always looked for with much interest.