17 



changes that have yet been made, this edifice presents, per- 

 haps, the most important. The house was good of its kind 

 before, save in the mode of heating, and in the shelves or 

 stands which supported the plants. It has now been doubled, 

 converted into a span-house thirty-two feet broad ; while, 

 extending North from this addition, a new wing is attached, 

 sixty feet long, and forming a span twenty-two feet in 

 breadth. The whole interior is neatly fitted up, with stone 

 shelving, and hot- water pipes, while copious concealed tanks 

 (as in our other new and improved houses) are added for the 

 purpose of catching and preserving a large body of rain 

 water ; and it is glazed with sheet glass. This extensive, but 

 simple structure, is filled with a perfectly unique collection 

 of Banksias and other Proteaceous productions of Australia. 

 Coming, as many of these plants do, from the Southern 

 Hemisphere, they preserve their natural habits, and a large 

 proportion of them, especially the Banksias, may be seen, 

 bearing their curious flowers in the winter, and the Lcgu- 

 minosce, during our early spring months, when the fragrant 

 Acacias are in the highest perfection. It is now in contem- 

 plation, during the coming summer (1845), to add another 

 wing to this house, on the South side, corresponding with 

 that on the North ; the whole building then will be m the 

 form of a cross, one hundred and fifty-two feet long. 



" No. 7. A Double Propagating Pit, or Hospital, thirty- 

 five feet long, with cuttings under bell-glasses and sick plants 

 in one division ; Ferns, Orchidaceous plants, and some other 

 valuable specimens, in the other." To reach this house from 

 the one just described, the visitor must follow the path from 

 the eastern door of the last house (n. 6), and proceed to the 

 South, passing compartments of herbaceous plants, on the 

 right, among lawn, and the famous Chili Pine (Araucaria 

 imbricata), which was brought to England in the year 1792, 

 by Mr. Menzies, the surgeon of Capt. Vancouver s voyage, 

 comes into view. It is, perhaps, not generally known that the 

 seeds of this Pine are eaten in Chili, as those of the btone 

 Pine are in Italy, or as Almonds are with us. Ihe Com- 

 mander of the voyage and some of his officers were dining at 

 the table of the Governor of Chili, and a dish of these kernels 

 was served for dessert, when the surgeon of the expedition, 

 Mr. Menzies, requested permission to plant, instead ot eating, 

 hi* portion, which was accordingly done, and five ot the seeds 

 having germinated on board ship, were presented to the Koyai 

 Gardens of Kew on the return of the expedition. Ihe Chili 



