68 The Gardens of Aiu erica. 



spersed weic some pretty foliaged plants: Fittouia argyroneura^ Pe- 

 perofnia gyinnostachyti7n^ marantas, alocasias, etc. 



Regretfully leaving these horticultural curiosities, we proceed, by a 

 winding path, past a flovver garden, — arrayed in all its autumnal splen- 

 dor, one sheltered nook having a clump of fine specimen azaleas planted 

 out, or jDlunged, for the summer, — through a fine belt of wood to the 

 new kitchen garden, which has lately been formed here, four acres in 

 extent, having at tlie farther end, on a raised terrace, an imposing range 

 of glass to be devoted to fruit-growing. 



Great labor has been expended here before the natural obstacles could 

 be overcome ; but by dint of powder and perseverance, what was once 

 a barren waste is now a garden teeming with the fruits of the earth ; 

 and in the whole of the details Mr. Pcattie has shown both good judg- 

 ment and horticultural skill. The main walk up the centre has an 

 ornamental herbaceous border on either side, a row of native grape 

 vines very appropriately standing guard betwixt flowers and vegetables. 

 Nor do we consider there is anything incongruous in such an arrange- 

 ment ; for by so doing, a visit to the kitchen garden can always be ren- 

 dered agreeable to the family, instead of being, as it too frequently is, an 

 unsightly corner, proscribed to visitors, and I'eserved to the workmen's 

 daily labor. 



The main walk is fourteen feet v.ide, the intersecting ones aH twelve 

 feet, thus giving ample room for either carriage, cart, or wagor to come 

 through, as convenience or utility may require. The walks ai"e all lined 

 with well-laid box, the working paths not interfering with the gen- 

 eral outline. 



The whole range of glass is one hundred and seventy-two feet long, 

 divided into five houses, two being lean-to graperies, with three span- 

 roofed orchard houses projected at right angles to the graperies, and 

 towards the kitchen garden. The inside details were not quite per- 

 fected, but, as far as could be seen and understood, gave great promise 

 of future efficiency. 



The graperies \\ ere already ]:)lanted out with vigorous vines of Golden 

 Champion, Lady Downs, Chassclas Musque, Bowood Muscat, Black 

 Hamburg, Muscats of Alexandria and Canon Hall, Victoria Hamburg, 



