Ma; 25, 1876. ) 



JODBNAL OF HOSTIOULTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



413 



rather amnsing to see the groom or attendant running hehind 

 holding on by the animal's tail, ready to receive the reins when 

 the rider dismounts. 



After two hours' journey we alighted from oar chariots in 

 front of a convent, from where we had a magnificent view. 

 The town with the beautiful bay lay immediately at our feet, 

 and to the right and left of us extended largo vineyards 

 and sugar plantations, interspersed with beautiful villas and 

 gardens. I had a ramble in the woods, and had time per- 

 mitted could have made a fine collection of Ferns and other 

 familiar liotlwuse plants. Our return journey was made in 

 conveyances slightly difleriug from those in which we made 

 our ascent, being only wicker chairs fixed on sliders, and pro- 

 pelled by a stalwart Portugee from behind. We halted in front 

 of one or two private gardens, to which, by the kind permis- 

 sion of the owners, we were admitted. At that season the 

 Camellias were in full bloom, and to see the enormous trees 

 with hundreds of blooms was a treat one seldom has the 

 opportunity of enjoying. Tacsonias, Bignonias, Bougaiuvilleas, 

 and numerous other delicate climbers took my particular atten- 

 tion. They were neatly trained round the verandahs. I shall 

 always remember my visit to Madeira, where, feasting on the 

 glorious sights, I enjoyed a few of the most pleasant hours of 

 my life. 



We reached Rio de .Janeiro about eight o'clock on the evening 

 of the 22ad, but had to drop anchor outside the forts, as no 

 vessel is allowed to enter the harbour after sundown ; so early 

 on the following morning we had the privilege of enjoying the 

 delightful scenery while steaming slowly up to the anchorage 

 in front of the city. Bio Janeiro is generally allowed to have 

 the finest and largest harbour in the world ; I should say few 

 could excel it for natural grandeur. We remained there a 

 day and a half, daring which time I had a run through the 

 Botanic Gardens and round the suburbs of the town. The 

 gardens are remarkable for their fine avenue of Palms. On 

 my return from the gardens I had the opportunity of ex- 

 periencing a tropical storm ; but on the following morning I 

 was amply repaid for any little inconvenience it caused me. 

 It was a lovely morning, and the verdant hills, clad with their 

 foliage of countless hues, with Bananas and stately Palms 

 standing out in bold relief, were so fresh and gay that, con- 

 trasted with their parched appearance previous to the rain, all 

 nature seemed combined in returning thanks for the refresh- 

 ing element. I was np betimes, continuing my rambles round 

 the villas, in the gardens of which I saw fine collections of 

 flowering and foliage stove plants. I was sorry my time was so 

 short, having to hurry on board, being uncertain at what hour 

 the " Olbers " would sail. We got under weigh about noon, 

 and leaving the stately " Sugar Loaf" behind, were soon again 

 out in mid ocean. Four days after we arrived at Montevideo, 

 where we were at once put into quarantine, owing to yellow 

 fever being prevalent at Bio .Janeiro. We continued our 

 voyage up the River Plate, and finished our quarantine in the 

 roads in front of Baenos Ayres. 



On the 3rd of December we were released, and soon reached 

 terra firma. A few days after my arrival I engaged with the 

 late Mr. Wanklyn, who had just built a large mansion, to lay 

 out the gardens and grounds surrounding it. I was kept hard 

 at work for six months, at the end of which I had everything 

 trim and each department in working order. I feel rather 

 flattered now, as everyone admits them to be the best and 

 most practically designed gardens in Buenos Ayres, and for 

 neatness and order they are excelled by none. The shrub- 

 beries have a very fine efiect now. Some of the Acacias, Ca- 

 suarinas, and Conifers, although none exceeded more than 

 2 feet high when planted, have now attained from 24 to 30 feet 

 in height. All the varieties of the Eucalyptus grow luxuri- 

 antly, but the tender points of young plants are liable to 

 be injured by frosts in winter. In another year the frait 

 department will produce any quantity of fruit, as the Apri- 

 cots, Plums, and Pears will be in a fruit-bearing state. 

 These last two years the Vines and Peaches have produced 

 abundantly. The flower garden this year has been the envy 

 of everyone. From the plants I brought with me I have 

 propagated a large stock, and have been able to go into bed- 

 ding on a large scale with fine effect. I was highly compli- 

 mented a few days ago by a gentleman who has just re- 

 turned from England, and where during the summer months 

 he visited several gardens, amongst which he saw none to 

 excel this for neatness of arrangement. I have still remained 

 here, but during the first eighteen months I laid out several 

 gardens and constructed a few conservatories ; but as the 



fatigue and exposure to the excessive heat was telling on my 

 health I was compelled to give such work up, and since then 

 I have given all my time and attention to improving the 

 gardens and grounds of my first employer. I regret very 

 much that just as I have overcome most of the difficulties 

 attending one's settlement in a foreign country and established 

 my reputation in a professional point of view, that I am pre- 

 vented by failing health from taking advantage of my expe- 

 rience, i am sorry to inform you that Mr. Wanklyn died last 

 June after a long and painful illness, deeply regretted by all 

 the native and foreign community, and none can regret his 

 demise more than I do, for he was a kind and indulgent master 

 and a great enthusiast in horticulture. Shortly after his 

 death Mrs. Wanklyn and family returned to England, un- 

 fortunately in the ill-fated S.S. " Boyne," which you would ob- 

 serve in the newspapers was totally wrecked near the coast of 

 France. We were very thankful to hear they all escaped with 

 their lives. I am at present left in charge of the house and 

 grounds until affairs are arranged. 



The climate of Buenos Ayres is generally considered healthy, 

 but at times the weather and temperature is liable to sudden 

 and extreme changes. I have remarked a variation of 40° 

 Fahrenheit within twelve hours, and one day last summer the 

 thermometer registered 95^ in the shade and 115' in the sun, 

 while next day there was a severe hailstorm, the stones being 

 of enormous magnitude. It is also subject to long and severe 

 droughts, sometimes extending over five or six months, during 

 which times breeders have often to drive their flocks and 

 herds for leagues into the Indian territories iu search of 

 pasture and water ; while in other years wet seasons set in 

 and the pasture grows so luxuriantly that it falls down and 

 rots the roots of the parent plants. But we must consider 

 these as exceptional years. Taken as a whole the country is 

 well adapted for sheep and cattle farming, the produce of 

 which is the great staple of the country, hides, wool, and 

 grease being the only exports. 



Agriculture has been tried in several provinces, but as yet 

 with little success, except within a few leagues round Buenos 

 Ayres and in the province of Santa Fi. The greatest enemies 

 to agriculturists are the locusts, which come iu such swarms 

 as to strip a farm bare in a few hours. In the province of 

 Mendoza wine has been produced with tolerable success. The 

 resources of this country are unlimited if there were only 

 capital and energy to work them out. No doubt there is a 

 fine future before us if Government would only stir theinselves 

 and foster immigration, and assist and protect immigrants 

 when they do arrive. It is the continual party broils and 

 the aggrandisement of the parties iu power which keep the 

 country in such a wretched backward state. Our poor neigh- 

 bouring republic Uruguay, the finest agricultural country in 

 South America, is completely ruined from being in a continual 

 civil war. No private individual cares to invest his capital in 

 stock when at any time marauders may come and clear off the 

 whole. 



The soil here is composed of a rich black vegetable deposit 

 varying from 1 foot to 2A feet deep, and produces enormous 

 crops. The market of Buenos Ayres is supplied with fruit and 

 vegetables by Italian gardeners, who grow the vegetables under 

 a system of irrigation. In the " chacras," or small farms near 

 the city, and along the railways. Lucerne is grown extensively 

 for hay, of which four splendid crops can bo had in one year. 

 This year the small piece I have has already produced two 

 crops, and is again almost ready for cutting. Maize is also 

 grown abundantly, but. I think its culture might be extended 

 greatly with profit, as it is a very bad season when it is a 

 failure. Potatoes produce two crops a-year. The first crop is 

 already taken up, and now is the time for planting the second ; 

 but they are very liable to be attacked by a large insect called 

 here the " Bicbo Moro," which eats the tops to the ground in 

 a few days. I have no doubt but in time this will also be a 

 great Wheat-producing country, for as the ground is cultivated 

 it will tend to shorten the dry season. What ought now to be 

 done is to plant large forests, selecting useful varieties of trees 

 for timber suitable to the climate ; but they hold here the same 

 opinion as Pat, who thought as posterity had dono nothing 

 for him he had no right to do anything for posterity. In the 

 upper provinces, where the ground is more undulating, tha 

 country is fairly wooded ; but in the province of Buenos Ayres 

 you may ride leagues and leagues and never meet with a tree, 

 except occasionally a solitary " Omber," a variety of Phyto- 

 lacca, under which is generally pitched a " puesteroa " ranch. 

 I intend when I can find it convenient having a run into the 



