34 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



and Pansies in the open ground may be protected with hoops and mats, 

 which can be uncovered when weather is fine. If frames, &c., get 

 covered thickly with snow, it will afford good protection ; but when 

 thaw sets in, it may be swept off as speedily as possible. M. T. 



A GAE-DElSrEIl'S HOLIDAY. 



The climate of North Wales, as may be judged from its adjoining the 

 Channel, is mild and moist. Ferns and mosses are very abundant ; 

 all the smaller species of Asplenium are plentiful, such as Viride, Sep- 

 tentrionale, Adiantum nigrum, Trichomanes, Ruta muraria, and even 

 Lanceolatum. Curious enough, almost all these species we have 

 gathered on Arthur's Seat. The common Polypody is as common as 

 grass ; in one instance we observed the whole roof of a house densely 

 covered wdth it. Ceterach and Cystopteris are easily procurable, and 

 even Adiantum Capillis veneris, but this we did not see. The 

 Dwarf Furze Avas in full flower in September, which is peculiar, 

 since we are accustomed to see the Whins in Scotland in bloom 

 before Easter; but they are two different species. The common Co- 

 toneaster is indigenous to the Welsh coast ; bushels of the ripe 

 berries could now be gathered. We backed out of Wales via 

 Chester again, past orchards laden with apples, a small bright red 

 variety being exceedingly abundant. Our route homewards through 

 Manchester, Sheffield, Barnsley, and Leeds has become notorious of late 

 by coal-pit and railway disasters, which might compare in horrible in- 

 terest with Tam O'Shanter's nocturnal ride from Ayr to Alloway Kirk, 

 only the disasters which marked the various points of Tam's route were 

 microscopic compared to our modern horrors, as were Tam's mode of 

 locomotion — 



" Well mounted on his grey mare Meg " — 



compared to a modern train ; but the philosopher would probably credit 

 the whole to the "march of improvement." Passing through what is, 

 perhaps, the longest tunnel in England, on the London and York rail- 

 way, which took 8 minutes, the train soon arrives at Wortley station, 

 close on Wortley Hall, the seat of Lord Wharncliffe. The park and 

 grounds occupy the slope of a rising-ground facing the east, and the 

 whole place has an air of comfort, compactness, and neatness. From the 

 sloping nature of the ground the two main ranges of glass are made up 

 with the houses on various levels, in order to face the south. Hambro' 

 Grapes are fine in berry and finish, quite equal to those we saw at 



