by the side of a Hickory, if the ground was made rich, as in the open ground ; while 

 if planted by the side of an Elm, it would find its long horizontal roots quite in the 

 way. I do not speak of the Hickory to the exclusion of others, but only as a very 

 common undomesticated ti-ee, and too little valued as an ornamental shade. The 

 greater variety of really good trees a cemetery can have, the better. The Elm is a 

 more graceful as well as a more majestic tree. The peculiar green of the White Ash 

 upon its well rounded head gives variety of foliage. The Oak family have an imposing 

 and characteristic dignity ; and there is a long list of other good trees, each having its 

 merit. There are the trees of the continual green ; and there are those, too, that, 

 destined to part with it, assume the not less beautiful and appropriate hues in which 

 advancing autumn never fails to clothe them. There is a higher beauty, even, in the 

 soft and richly blended, ever-varying tints of the later year, than in the more even 

 verdure of June. Hence the merit of that large class of trees that so persistently defy 

 the frosts. Those common trees, the Dogwood and the Sassafras, then have beauty 

 enough to win that attention that their earlier modesty could not. The beautiful Vir- 

 ginia Creeper, which possesses among vines this autumn glory in a marked degree, 

 might be made to atone somewhat for the want of it in the suddenly denuded Hickory. 



As it is almost always desirable to select ground at least partially covered with natu- 

 ral forest, a matter of next importance is a judicious selection of Grasses. In our own 

 very prettily wooded cemetery, the result of much labor in seeding under the young 

 second-growth trees has been discouraging, and only from ignorance of the fact that 

 only a few domesticated Grasses thrive under trees. The more generally used are the 

 least suitable — such as Timothy and Red Clover. Orchard Grass is far better. 



But I will not prolong what was only commenced as a reminder of the attention due 

 to what should be a leading matter connected with horticultural improvement. For 

 lack of the well beautified public grounds that every town should have, our cemeteries 

 may be made delightful places of resort for all citizens who choose to pass a jjleasant 

 and quiet hour away from care and confinement. Almost every village may find some 

 wild spot capable of ready adaptation to such use. If swamp or rock does not make 

 too lai'ge a portion, the wilder, the better. In cemeteries, as in private grounds, forest 

 trees are quite the. most effective and economical form of embellishment. 



THE CRYSTAL PALACE AT SYDENHAM. 



BY E. B. LEUCHAES, LONDON, ENGLAND. 



As you requested some notes on interesting subjects on this side the Avater, I do not 

 think I can better comply with your request than by sending you a few remarks on 

 the present crystal palace at Sydenham as a horticultural structure, and the somewhat 

 novel style of landscape gardening adopted in the grounds around it. To enable your 

 readers, however, to form an adequate idea of this extraordinary ])laoe, it will bo 

 necessary to give a brief sketch of the building itself, and the spot on which it stands. 

 The building stands on an irregular parallelogram of ground, containing nearly 300 

 The most northern portion of this ground rises to the height of some 

 feet above the level of the surrounding country, and on this elevated grounc; 



