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This vast collection of houses consists of 



No. 1. A conservatory 32 ft. high. Plants chiefly in borders. 

 Large species of Heteromorpha arborescens, Fuchsia arborea (cor- 

 ticata ?), Ileaa Perado, etc., are conspicuous. This house, like 

 several others, has a flat dark roof, it being apprehended at the 

 time of its construction, that with a glass roof so large a house 

 could not be kept sufficiently warm. 



2. A house, 28 ft. high, intended for the lofty trees indigenous 

 or acclimatized in the south of Europe, it accommodates, however, 

 several species from other regions. Thus its centre is occupied 

 by a large Laurus Camphora, probably the oldest tenant of the 

 garden. In the east end of this house Magnolias are planted ; 

 in the west end a few New Holland Trees. A Parrotia Persica 

 may be mentioned as one of the more remarkable plants of the 

 house. 



3. Large New Holland house, 30 ft. high. Besides the plants 

 its name indicates, others have found shelter in it, more particu- 

 larly some large specimens of Araucaria Braziliensis, and two 

 very old plants of Rhododendron arboreum, dating from the in- 

 troduction of the species into Europe. In the eastern borders 

 Cape plants of large size, namely Plectronia ventosa, Rhus glauca, 

 several Royence, Cunonia Capensis, etc., are growing. There are 

 double lights, to avoid the necessity of other coverings. 



4. The eastern end of the north range, 14 ft. high, contains 

 Proteacea, Casuarinea, and large Ericaceae ; amongst them are 

 some very large specimens of Banksia, Cunninghamia, Macros- 

 tachya grandis, and others. 



5. This house, coinciding in height with the preceding, con- 

 tains young and low Conifera, Cape plants, except Proteacese, 

 Liliacese, Geraniacese, and Succulentae. The garden is somewhat 

 poor in South African plants, and the Coniferce leave much to 

 desire, because with our climate many will not grow in the open 

 air, and in pots and tubs they never succeed to perfection. 



6. The centre of the middle range, entirely devoted to tropical 

 vegetation, is formed by this house, 32ft. high; everything it 

 contains is placed in the borders. Unfortunately the vigorous 

 growth of the plants outstrips the capacity of the house. Caryota 

 urens and a Maximiliana touch the ceiling, a Hemaudia sonom, 

 Coccoloba pubescens, Livistonia Borboniea and others, soon will. 

 To prevent the loss of these and many other valuable plants this 

 house must be raised and a glass roof added. It was not expected 

 that tropical plants would grow so luxuriantly, and the height of 

 32 ft. was thought more than sufficient. Experience has proved 

 the contrary. 



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