of Rural Art and Taste. 



259 



stunt their £;rowth, excepting in a few rare 

 instances. Good specimens of Torreya are 

 seen, and Podocarpus Japonicus and P. an- 

 dina. Cryptomerias do well, especially the 

 newer C. elegans, which is a gem I am afraid 

 Americans will never be fully able to enjoy. 



But I have tarried so long with the conifers 

 that I shall not be able to devote sufficient 

 space to all the other beautiful things in these 

 extensive grounds. The shrubbei'y is well 

 represented by all the choicest species and 

 varieties in cultivation, and as I wandered 

 through the masses devoted to this class of 

 plants, I noticed very many interesting sights 

 that I long to particularize. In deciduous 

 trees as well, this collection is exceedingly 

 rich, notwithstanding the limited area as 

 devoted to the collection. All the choice 

 varieties of Beech, Ash, Maple, Linden, Oak, 

 Poplar, etc., were well grown, and in many 

 instances of large size. 



I noticed with pleasure a small garden 

 filled with specimens of grasses all neatly 

 labeled, and giving evidence that here we 

 might find a valuable auxiliary to our land- 

 scape art. Close beside was a very pretty 

 collection of hardy ferns also neatly labeled. 



One of the most pleasing features of the 

 place, however, and one which attracts more 

 notice perhaps than any other from the casual 

 visitor, is the large rock-work covered with 

 Alpines and other hardy herbaceous plants. 

 Here may be seen Sempervivums and Sedums 

 so numerous, that one becomes confused with 

 the multiplicity of names : and some of them 

 are delicately tinted with yellow and violet as 

 to rival the beautiful petals of many a popular 

 flower. Interspersed among the tiny little 

 alpines are the taller flowering stems of choice 

 bulbs and feathery , ferns; and all about are 

 the grotesque white stones that form the rock- 

 work and which supply the needs of this class 

 of plants. Many of the terrestrial orchids 

 were growing in profusion and full of bloom, 

 The Succulents were fine, particularly the 

 Echeverias, just showing their flowers. 



An inspection of the museum, hasty thpugb 

 it was, was a useful lesson. Here we saw the 

 cones of very many species of the cprjiferae. 



besides seed vessels of a large number of 

 curious plants ; specimens of woods, bark, 

 and fibres also contributed to our instruction. 



We were shown into the lecture room 

 where a large class of botanical students 

 weekly meet to gain practical knowledge 

 from the best qualified professors of botany, 

 and where the lessons they are taught may 

 be illustrated by the living plants. The 

 walls were covered with large sketches, and 

 on the desk were many excellent models of 

 flowers and leaves. 



Our visit closed with a rather hasty glance 

 through the glass structure devoted to the 

 tropical plants. The palms, many of which 

 were very old showed evidence of unusual 

 care. The orchids, ferns, cacti, and in 

 fact all the various classes were very pleasing 

 and instructive. Even the so-called "florist's- 

 flowers " were not neglected, and excellent 

 examples of geraniums, fuschias, roses, etc., 

 showed that skill was required to grow them 

 in such perfection. I could not help envying 

 this people, such a school for the rising gene- 

 ration. Why can we not in America secure 

 something of the kind for the masses who 

 thirst for botanical knowledge, without the 

 means to gratify it ? Parks and beautiful 

 gardening are all very well, and are refining 

 in their influences, but we need something 

 more — a collection where we may compare and 

 study the nature of every plant that grows. 

 The idea is feasible, and I sincerely hope 

 may be attempted in America at no distant 

 day. If I mistake not, the Cambridge Bo- 

 tanic Garden aims at this, and all lovers of 

 botanical science heartily prays fpr it^s svic^ 

 cessi 



]Vetv Orchid.r-^O^e of the most striking 

 and elegant orebids we have lately seen, and 

 one quite new to us, is Phajxis bicolor. It 

 has the habit pf P. Wailichii, but the flowers 

 are smaller, more elegant in form, the sepals 

 and petals lanceolate, brownish, the lip pinkish. 

 We saw it lately in bloom at the Jardin des 

 Plantes, and were much struck with its 

 beauty. — Gardeners^ Chronicle. 



