MRS. LAWRENCE'S GARDEN. 



In a survey of these pleasure grounds there is much to satisfy and please. A great deal 

 of variety, and several delightful minor compartments, are secured. In general, t6o, 

 there is much harmony and good taste shown in the arrangements and the decorations. 

 The leading cause for regret is that the breadth of the lawn has been sacrificed to obtain 

 the cross avenues we have spoken of. These lines of plants cut up the lawn very much, 

 and destroy all appearance of openness or extent. Two of them are likewise altogether 

 without an object; and as the plants in them all grow up, we can only conceive of their 

 becoming still more objectionable. Scarcely any consideration can ever justify the use of 

 lines of plants across a lawn that comes into view from the house; and the only show of 

 reason which can be assigned for their use in this case is, that they supply the means of 

 exhibiting some highly beautiful plants to great advantage. 



A quiet walk from the western side of the lawn leads through the plantations, beneath 

 an arched trellis embowered with climbers, to the department in which the plant houses 

 are situated. And here the real treasures of the place begin to develop themselves. In 

 regard to the size and rarity of the specimens, the superiority of their cultivation, and the 

 quantity possessed, there is probably no collection in Europe which, in all these respects, 

 can at all rival this. 



A walk through the plant houses supplies continual food for wonder and admiration. 

 The conviction is pressed upon us at every step that the power of cultivation " can no 

 further go." And everything is done with a liberality as to space and conveniences which 

 is quite of a piece with the fame of this establishment. The well-known success which 

 attends the exhibition of plants from this place at the great metropolitan shows, will no 

 longer be matter of surprise after the collection is seen. The only occasion for astonish- 

 ment will be that any other competitor should ever be able to carry off the highest prize. 



At the front of the principal group of plant houses is a somewhat square area, arranged 

 as a flower garden, and having little wire temples, as supports for climbing roses, at the 

 corners. Walls covered with climbers inclose it at the sides, and the charming Clematis 

 montana is among the most conspicuous plants on these walls. There is a fountain in the 

 center, and some vases are placed about in parts, while masses of stones at the base of 

 the buildings, and in front of them, receive a variety of pretty trailing and alpine plants. 

 The flower-beds are cut out of the grass, and are each furnished with a single kind of 

 plant, in the usual manner. 



The houses, which are composed of a series of span roofs, slightly varying in height, 

 occupy a considerable space, but they do not present one uniform front. The two end 

 compartments, which are supposed to be about 20 ft. wide by 75 ft. long, and each of 

 which is covered by a span roof, are devoted to greenhouse plants. Between these and the 

 centre of the group, there are two short houses, about 15 ft. long, against the back wall, 

 leaving an open gravelled space in the front of them. These small houses are assigned to 

 tall Cacti, large specimen plants, or a mixed collection. The central compartment is about 

 55 ft. wide, by 75 ft. long, and is roofed by three parallel spans, the middle one being 

 highest. The whole of this portion is kept at stove heat, and it has a glass partition 

 across the middle, separating the stove plants from the orchids. Two other glass parti- 

 tions in the back part divide it into three unequal spaces, the larger middle portion being 

 given up chiefly to the jJvihcrslia, a small aquarium, and some mixed orchids and stove 

 plants, while the side divisions are filled with orchids alone. 



The first thing which we notice on entering the plant houses is, that they are raised 

 ft. above the ground level, and that therefore they are very dry, and may be made 

 as can be desired. Our next observation is that, although preparing the plants for 



