IN THE ELIZABETHAN AGE. 15 



paths in a pleasure-ground are certainly not the l^ss delightful 

 because they branch out from the broad expanse of the straight 

 promenade. The curve-shaped beds, filled with irregular groups 

 of flowers, do not the less please by their graceful outline be- 

 cause they are studded over the even-sided lawn. And so in 

 every case. The occasional introduction of the regular and the 

 formal can have no other effect than that of enhancing the eflTect 

 of the irregular and the informal — those characteristics of the 

 true line of beauty — those main and commanding features of Na- 

 ture herself. Art, and the works of art, may further enhance 

 the beauty of the whole scene ; but to revive the Elizabethan 

 gardening as a whole, and in all its principles, would be like 

 reviving the pedantry of that age as well as its learning — its 

 euphuism as well as its pure old prose and splendid poetry — its 

 rude and coarse social customs as well as its chivalrous spirit ; and 

 would be in each of these cases as in all, a clear offence against 

 good taste. 



II. — A short Account of Col. F€ildi7ig^s Coryanth (^Coryanthes 

 Feildi7igii).^ By the Vice-Secretary. 



In August, 1847, Col. Feilding sent me for examination a 

 flower of a Coryanth, which is so remarkable as to deserve a 

 notice at some length. 



The plant was purchased of Mr. Atkins, of Northampton, in 

 1842, its origin being unknown. It flowered at Street Aston in 

 1844; in 1845 it was again showing for flower, but missed in 

 consequence of its removal to Lonclon ; in 1847 it finally pro- 

 duced the extraordinary blossoms wliich are the subject of the 

 annexed figures. 



As usual in this genus the flowers are pendulous and inverted, 

 so that the apparatus of the column hangs downwards instead of 

 being erect. The general colour of the parts is pale brownish 

 yellow, a little mottled and stained with cinnamon in an irre- 

 gular manner. When closed, the flower is about five inches long 

 and three wide. As it unfolds, the sepals and petals, which are 

 membranous and bear no small resemblance to bats' wings, turn 

 back, seem to fold up, and finally hang drooping at the back of 

 the lip and column, in which organs, as is well known, the sin- 

 gularity of the genus resides. 



The lip is borne by a thick horizontal arm an inch and a half 

 long, which proceeds from the top of the flower -stalk, and con-' 



* C. Feildingii ; hypochilio stipitato convexo sub-compresso calvo basi 

 tomentoso, mesochilio plicato et verrucoso, epichilio galeato sub-quadrato 

 rotundato lobis lateralibus uncinatis intermedio trancato erecto. — J. L. 



