.MRS. LAWRENCE'S GARDEN. 



ACCOUNT OF MRS. LAWRENCE'S GARDEN, NEAR LONDON. 



«Y H. C. KEMP. 



[We quote the following description of the place most celebrated in England for the 

 high cultivation of the plants and the richness and variety of the exotic flora it contains. 

 Mrs. Lawrence's plants are as nearly perfect as plants can be, in beauty of growth and 

 completeness of development, and she uniformly carries off the majority of the prizes at 

 the great London shows, where she has the combined skill of all England to compete with. 

 The account is taken from an interesting little volume lately received, on the parks and 

 gardens about London. Ed.] 



Mrs. Lawrence's gardens at Ealing, Park have acquired, and justly, a universal re- 

 putation, on account of the superb collection of plants which they contain, and the general 

 taste displayed in the arrangement of the place. As they are most generously thrown 

 open to the public for one day in each week during the summer, they demand to be pretty 

 fully described. 



The entrance to the park is at the eastern corner, and after passing through the gates, 

 the drive turns to the left, and crosses the open park till it reaches a long piece of artificial 

 water, over which it is carried by a low bridge, — which is in fact a neck of land dividing 

 the lake into levels, — and soon arrives at the house. There is also a walk from the lodge 

 to the house, just along the belt of plantation which covers the northern boundary. In 

 the lake is a pretty island of weeping willows, which shows well from the house. The 

 drive, walk, water, &c., were planned by Brown; but the southern belt of pLantation was 

 afterwards thinned out with great judgment and effect by Repton, who saw that it was 

 concealing the views into the country across the Surrey Hills, and of tliC Kew Pao-oda, 

 gardens, &c., and caused several varied openings in the line of plantation to be made, 

 thereby greatly enlivening and expanding the place. 



From the house, which is so unfortunately contrived that the offices are on the south 

 side, and can only be gained by passing the principal entrance door, an opening through 

 an architectural wing wall at the north end brings us at once into the pleasure grounds. 

 This wall is also used to connect the house with a conservatory, which stands on the right 

 as soon as the garden is entered, and is generally filled with Camellias, or other large 

 flowering plants that are not grown as specimens. 



At the other end of the house, a short colonnade is thrown out, and supported by low 

 evergreen trees, through which the access to what is called the " Italian walk" is given. 

 This is a straight walk on a descending slope, with pairs of small figures on pedestals at 

 either side of it, and good specimens of Irish yew between these. It terminates in a mo- 

 derately large circular basin of water, in the center of which, on a suflicient pedestal, is 

 a figure of Apollo. The walk is kept confined towards the end by large evergreens, which 

 narrow the vista, and restrict the view pretty much to the principal terminating object in 

 the middle of the basin. The figures on the pedestals at the sides are arranged in pairs; 

 on one pedestal Mars and Venus being placed, on another Cupid and Psyche, on a third 

 Castor and Pollux, &c. The general effect is classic and elegant, and consistent with the 

 style of the house. 



The lawn view from the front of the house is rich and varied. A great many specimen 

 plants, especially of the coniferous tribe, are scattered about upon the grass, and their 

 lower branches lie down upon it in the most graceful manner. A rustic arch, throu<^h 



