March 29, 1877. ] 



JOUENAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEE. 



235 



metropolia," the Dake of Biobmond being named in the 

 charter as the first President, followed in 1841 by the Duke of 

 Norfolk, in 185.5 by the Prince Consort, in 1862 bv the Earl 

 De-la-Warr, and in ISCil by the present President— U.S. H. the 

 Duke of Teck. 



The garden, which comprises the whole of the inner circle of 

 tho Regent's Park, a little over 13 acres, is held on lease from 

 Her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, first 

 granted in 1810, and since renewed at an advanced rent. 

 Before the Society entered on the land it was in tho occupa- 

 tion of Mr. Jenkins as a general nnrsery, the Society paying 

 him a considerable sum for the stock, Ac. At that time (1810) 

 the garden was a fiat piece of ground with a gentle fall from 

 the centre to the sides, one gravel walk crossing from east to 

 west, a circular walk of about the semi-diameter of the outer 

 circle or fence, and two small lawns, a few large Elm trees, 

 Horse Chestnutg, Planes, Thorns, Birch, Weeping Ash, and 



fruit trees ; the soil — a oold, stiff, yellow clay — had been only 

 partially cultivated. In that year (1810) Mr. Robert Marnock 

 (recommended to the Committee by the well-known and 

 respected J. C. London) was appointed to lay out the garden, 

 the first works being the digging of the lake and the general 

 alteration of the flat surface of the ground. In this Mr. Mar- 

 nock so admirably succeeded that most visitors to the gardens 

 look upon the undulations and curves rather as the work of 

 nature than of art. 



The garden is ornamental and park-like in appearance. It 

 has been so judiciously planned and planted that it looks much 

 more extensive than it is, especially as it merges into the 

 surrounding scenery, the trees, shrubs, and lake in Regent's 

 Park appearing as if they wore part of the garden. Besides 

 the broad straight gravel walk leading from the principal 

 entrance to the conservatories there are winding paths leading 

 to shady groves and pleasant retreats. Thu garden is instrue- 



I'ig. 32.— EOYAL I) 



tive as well as being attractive, for the plants are arranged 

 according to tho natural system. There is also a flower garden 

 for the arrangement of colours, a geographical garden, an ex- 

 hibition ground, a winter garden or conservatory, houses for 

 tropical, subtropical, medical, economic, aquatic plants, &c., 

 all well stocked with specimens. 



The first portion of the conservatory was built in ISlC from 

 the joint design of Mr, Deciraus Burton (the Architect of the 

 Society) and Mr. Richard Turner, by whose firm at Dublin the 

 whole of the work was executed ; in 1871 the east wing and 

 oorridor were added, and in ImvC the west wing was completed, 

 both these additions being executed by Messrs. Turner. The 

 entire structure, with the exception of the corridor, is of glass 

 and iron, and measures 235 feet in length by 100 feet in 

 breadth. 



The summer exhibitions of plants, flowers, and fruit com- 

 menced in 18i;i, and of spring flowers in 185'.J, have been con- 

 tinued to the present time. Exhibitions of Rhododendrons 

 planted in the ground were begun in 1819 and continued up 

 to 187-}, when special exhibitions of Clematises, Rises, &c., were 

 introduced. 



Botanical lectures in the museum, commenced in 1853 by 

 the lamented Professors Edward Forbes and Arthur Ilenfrey, 

 are now continued by Professor Robert Bentley. 



The gardens, owing to their near vicinity to the medical and 



other schools of London, have for many years been of much 

 service in supplying illustrative specimens for the use of pro- 

 fessors, teachers, &a. Students of all kinds and artists duly 

 recommended are admitted freely to the gardens. Nearly five 

 hundred free orders were issued last year for terms of from 

 one to six months, and in 1875 nearly 33,000 cut specimens 

 were distributed to teachers and students. 



The range of houses (l.'O feet) in the garden of medicinal 

 plants, built by the present Secretary in 1874, already con- 

 tains one of the best collections of economic plants. 



Highly is the Society indebted to the zeal and abilities of 

 individuals whose names are familiar, especially to James de 

 Carle Sowerby the late Secretary, and William Sowerby his 

 son, the present Secretary. The excellent President, His 

 Serene Highness the Duke of Teck, has greatly contributed to 

 the welfare of the Society ; tho garden has also an able super- 

 intendent in Mr, W, Coomber, — N.iTH.iN Cole, Kensington. 



EHODODENDEON NUTTALLI, 

 There is a healthy well-grown specimen of this shy-flowering 

 shrub now in full bloom in the conservatory attached to the 

 residence of tho Misses Cattley at Cleydene, near Edenbridge, 

 Kent. At the time of my visit there were four trusses, each 

 14 iachea in diameter, with fully expanded flowers and one or 



