274 THE FLORIST. 



Some of the cut blooms were of great size and depth. The finest 

 specimens were Queen of England, Dupont de l'Eure, Plutus, Themis, 

 Pius IX., Vesta, Defiance, and Beauty. We are not only pleased to 

 see this the original Chrysanthemum Society maintain its position, 

 but increase in importance. It is worthy of remark, that flowers 

 were exhibited from Gateshead, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, and were 

 exceedingly fine, considering how far north, for this late flower, they 

 were grown. 



THE NEW CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM. 



It is generally acknowledged that England possesses no example of 

 public gardens worthy of her intelligence and limitless resources, and 

 that in this respect she has hitherto been greatly outstripped by her 

 neighbour France. Of recent years the Royal Gardens at Kew have 

 been greatly enlarged and vastly improved, and now certainly occupy 

 the first place in Europe as botanical gardens. But although these 

 are tastefully laid out, their artificial decorations hardly deserve the 

 name when compared with such examples as are to be seen in France. 

 The reason of this inferiority on the part of England is no doubt 

 lo be found in the fact, that while the government of France has 

 been in the habit of undertaking the execution of great public works 

 for the people, the English government leaves all such work to be 

 executed by the people, or by private companies ; and until Sir Joseph 

 Paxton's happy idea of combining gardens with the Crystal Palace, 

 no company seems to have ventured upon the formation of highly 

 artistic gardens for the people. Now, however, the Crystal Palace 

 Company, aided by the genius of Sir Joseph Paxton, bids fair to 

 produce such a work as will place England as much in advance in 

 this respect as she has hitherto been behind. 



The Crystal Palace itself occupies a commanding position on the 

 top of elevated ground some 200 feet above the Brighton Railway, 

 which passes near the southern boundary of the park. The central 

 portion of the building, rising to the airy height of some 220 feet, 

 will be a striking object for a vast distance around ; and from the 

 palace will doubtless be one of the most extensive and certainly the 

 richest views in England ; for, besides looking down upon the gardens, 

 rich in all kinds of decorations, the eye will sweep over some forty 

 miles of country. 



The gardens occupy the south front of the Palace, sloping down 

 a gentle declivity towards the railway above alluded to, and although 

 a great portion is still in an unfinished state, sufficient progress has 

 been made to enable visitors to form some idea of what the effect will 

 be when the whole of the works connected with those matchless 

 gardens shall have been completed. The narrow slope between the 

 basement of the palace and the level of the first terrace is covered 

 with a close verdant turf, and the terrace itself is in a very forward 

 state. This terrace is supported by a handsome wall, running its 



