devotion to be studied more satisfactorily than here. Ferns for Its Horti- 

 instance. What more deplorable object as a rule, even in large culture 

 and scientific gardens, than that gloom-saturated corner usually 

 dedicated to Ferns ? Here, whether we look at the matter 

 from the point of view of massing or of rarity f the result 

 is alike satisfactory. I hardly recall a garden effect that seems 

 to me to be, upon the whole, at once better and simpler than 

 the one produced here by a sort of broken hilly slope, covered 

 with Ferns, up which you climb, and, having reached the top, 

 turn and see below you a perfect sea of tossing light green 

 fronds, backed and emphasised by the opening into a heavily- 

 shaded Yew-walk beyond. Of the Water-Lily tribe again, 

 suffice it to say that all, or nearly all, both of natural and hy- 

 bridised forms, from the merest pigmies up to the huge Nymphcea 

 Colossea, are to be found in the pools, the only exceptions being 

 such desperately fastidious creatures as require that the water 

 they live in should be warmed in winter, and these, along with 

 one of the longest grown and still grandest of the whole family 

 the Victoria regina will be found in the tanks indoors. Of 

 shrubs, wall-plants, and creepers, again, the list is an almost 

 endless one, easily-killed personages such as Romneya Coulteri 

 and Carpenteria californica living and flourishing as to the 

 manner born. Of genuine natives the great Irish Butter-wort 

 (Pinguicula grandiflora], mentioned a while back as almost 

 impossible to induce to grow permanently, has become a regular 

 inmate of Glasnevin, re-establishing itself recently of its own 

 accord in wet grass beside the Lily pond. But the truth is that 

 an article twice the length of this one would still come short, 

 and the wiser plan is to simply counsel the explorer, as he 

 values his own self-respect, not to fail to visit both this and the 

 c 17 



