480 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, 1891. 



modified to suit local surroundings and circumstances, the most im- 

 portant of which was the water-supply, which was entirely dependent 

 upon wells, and these were always running dry during the summer 

 months. 



In the " Ram Newas " are to be found various styles of landscape 

 gardening, the Italian being the most picturesque. The natural, the 

 gardenesque, the geometrical, and the terraced, all finding an 

 appropriate place. The clumping of shrubs en masse with striking 

 effect forms one of the most beautiful features of the garden. The 

 lawns, of which there are no less than four of considerable size, (one 

 of them a cricket lawn 100 yards square,) with grass borders and beds, 

 are perhaps the chief features of the gardens. Full advantage has 

 been taken of every " vista point/' all of them being most skilfully 

 taken in. The north side of the garden, running parallel with the 

 city wall, and between the two gates above mentioned, is fenced in by 

 an ornamental cast-iron railing, which was got out from England at 

 considerable expense ; the other three sides having a fencing of 

 galvanized wire netting, the whole being studded on a stone wall 2^ 

 feet high. 



The visitor enters the garden from the Ajmere gate side, through 

 a pair of handsome cast-iron gates, with a fine sweep, the gate pillars 

 being surmounted by handsome gas lamps. He may here either get 

 out of his conveyance or drive round east or west. Before him is a 

 handsomely carved stone balustrade, each pillar having an ornamental 

 flow er pot of Etruscan or terra-cotta ware. In the distance, due 

 south, the ancient fortress of Motee Doongree (pearl mound) meets his 

 eye, and in the foreground is what used to be the European Head 

 Gardener's house, now a sort of drawing-school and store-house. 

 The visitor then descends an ornamental flight of stone steps, and 

 finds himself immediately in the midst of a beautifully laid out 

 flower plot, the beds being of geometrical pattern, filled with roses 

 and ornamental shrubs. Immediately in front are two lovely lawns, 

 laid down with "Doob" grass {Cynodcm dactylon), and bordered on 

 every side by geometrically-cut beds with a background of shrubs 

 planted en masse. Were the visitor to turn to the left, he would 

 pass through fine clumps of shrubs, by winding paths bordered with 

 " Doob " grass, through the lovely " Bower of sweet odours/' 



