NOVEMBER. 323 



one to grow it in common ricli garden soil we have no dou])t, and 

 a more really charming plant for flowering in May and June we 

 do not possess. When once seen in bloom its cultivation in 

 every garden will be certain. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE GARDENS. 



The characteristic features of this grand place have shown themselves 

 more clearly this season ; for although much remains to be done before 

 the ground and water at the lower end of the gardens are complete, yet 

 on looking over the finislied parts, the eye accustomed to design and 

 execution can easily imagine what the general effect will be. On looking 

 at the garden as a whole, the details composing it blend well together, 

 and the arrangements of the walks, &c., are well managed for showing 

 to advantage the way in which the ground is disposed of It would, 

 however, have been an improvement, if some of the clumps of American 

 and other plants had a greater breadth, and more freedom of outline. 

 There is likewise a look of baldness about some part of the grounds, 

 which would be much reheved by masses of evergreen trees, of which 

 there appears a great want, considering how ornamental, both in groups, 

 and as single specimens, many of the Conifer section of evergreen trees 

 really are ; nor yet did we nutice any attempts being made to plant 

 such deciduous trees and shrubs as are remarkable for the variety or 

 beauty of their foliage ; these omissions (if we are right in considering 

 they exist, from a very hasty look round), should, we think, have 

 attention at the hands of the designers, for great eifect would be pro- 

 duced in the autumn by the introduction of Scarlet-leaved ISIaples and 

 Oaks, Liquidamber, Sumachs, &c., in masses. We will go even 

 further, and recommend inserting every hardy plant in any way re- 

 markable for peculiarity, either in colour, or shape of leaf, as affordincr a 

 pleasing variety to the hues and forms of ordinary vegetation. An 

 autumn walk through these delightful grounds in a few years' time 

 would be doubly interesting to admirers of Nature, if the landscape 

 included trees whose warm coloured tints would give a tone to the 

 scenery, when summer flowers began to fade ; so likewise groups of 

 evergreen trees and shrubs, judic.ously arranged for effect, as well as 

 shelter, would prove attractive objects during the fine days of early 

 spring, a season when evergreens show to greatest advantage, and when, 

 accompanied with early flowering plants, they would cheer and enliven 

 the gardens, when tliere would be but little else to attract company 

 such a distance from London. 



On looking over the grounds from the balcony of the grand transept, 

 or even from the upper terrace, we think the part between the lake 

 and the boundary should be planted with a dense mass of evergreen 

 trees and shrubs, to form an appropriate background to the garden in 

 front ; it would likewise shut out the village of Penge, which we con- 

 sider rather an objectionable feature, excepting the spire of the church, 

 which would still be visible above the planting. A mass of dark coloured 



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