REMINISCENCES ON GARDENS, FLOWERS, &C. 55 



several winters, being protected by a wall, and is slightly covered with 

 mats, except near the ground, where several offsets project curiously, 

 and appear in perfect health. In a conservatory belonging to the 

 same gentleman is a tall Cactus ; it is more than thirteen feet liigh, 

 and measures full half a yard in circumference. I once saw it in 

 flower, which was yellow, and opened about seven o'clock in tiie 

 evening. I am sorry I have not its distinct name. In the garden of 

 another gentleman there I saw with pleasure a fine Pawlownia im- 

 perialis, about fourteen feet high, and the elegant Aralia japonica, 

 about eight feet from the ground, and which had been abundantly in 

 flower. In the summer I was higlily gratified by inspecting- the beau- 

 tiful grounds of the Botanic Garden, Regent's Park, Lonrlon. In the 

 conservatory creepers were hanging down from the roof in flower, 

 such as Passiflora kermesina, Tacsonia grandis, Steplianotus flori- 

 bundus, &c., forming a resemblance to drapery, and waving in the 

 slight breath of air which occasionally reached them. In the stove 

 was suspended from the sloping roof a fine specimen of the curious 

 Torenia Asiatica, which I am now lamenting my inability to keep 

 through the winter. [Keep it in a stove through that season, and in 

 a growing condition strike cuttings early in spring. It produces seed 

 freely, and plants are readily raised. — Conductor.] The ^schy- 

 nanthus also hung down its rich scarlet blossoms. The many rare 

 plants here I cannot attempt to enumerate. In the garden, the blue 

 edging produced by (I suppose) a species of Lobelia, gave an elegant 

 and novel effect. The flowers were most abundant, and the plants 

 dwarf and compact. The plan of the grounds gave me many new 

 ideas. The rosery is admirably adapted to exhibit those beautiful 

 flowers in perfection. Some exquisite and rare Gladioli, forming a 

 bed in a gentleman's garden at Aspley, proved the high claim of this 

 bulb to the attention of the lovers of flowers. At AVrest, the seat of 

 Earl De Grey, the blue Ceanothus azureus, growing against a lofty 

 wall, and covered with blossoms, arrested my attention, never having 

 seen it in such perfection before ; the effect was good and uncommon, 

 and the space completely covered was considerable. I pass by the 

 flower beds and noble forest trees in the grounds, long celebrated as 

 the Silsoe Gardens, and originally laid out by Capability Brown. 

 "We glanced at, but did not enter, the gay greenhouse at Chatsworth, 

 near the residence and belonging to the head gardener. It appeared 

 one sheet of flowers. The grounds near the mansion attracted us, but 

 although we had introductions we were unable to walk through the 

 large and celebrated conservatory, the Duke of Devonshire being 

 exjjected every minute to arrive at home: we were only allowed to 

 look down it, which was quite a disappointment. Our next floral treat 

 was at York. In the stove of a lady there, we saw a fine specimen of 

 Bread Fruit ; the flowering branch hung down in considerable length. 

 The Coffee Plant was interesting, and the Begonia fuschioides, a very 

 elegant ornament. In the grounds of Backhouse and Son, the bloom- 

 ing plants were numerous, and the fernery interesting and well 

 planned. The Yucca glaucescens was in flower ; it is rather a dwarf 

 species, but well worth growing. Specimens of many rare trees here 



