NOVEMBER. 513 



ground rises on a slope, about twelve feet ; then a broad 

 gravel walk all around, affording fine views of the conserva- 

 tory and its surroundings ; the sloping bank is planted with 

 Chili pines, Araucaria hnbricata, and a border of brilliant 

 flowers. The central passage through the conservatory forms 

 part of the drive ; and T was informed that the duke often 

 indulged his friends with a ride through it in a coach and 

 four. To the north, on leaving the conservatory, the drive 

 enters a gigantic rockery, with waterfalls, pools, &c., which 

 are so natural, that it is with difficulty many are made to be- 

 lieve it is artificial. This rockwork is certainly on the most 

 stupendous scale of anything of the kind in the world, and 

 forms a screen, or rather a piece of Alpine scenery, dividing 

 the grounds around the mansion with its rich pastures, from 

 the mammoth conservatory. 



There is here no dwindling away into mere imitation » 

 The thing is really and substantially as natural as if Sir Jo- 

 seph Paxton had, by some supernatural means, moved a slice 

 of one of the Derbyshire hills, and set it down here. Many 

 of the stones are several tons in weight, and are piled up to 

 an enormous height, and scattered around in great profusion. 

 Among the many works of the kind I have already seen, this 

 is the only one that did not seem a puny effort, (notwith- 

 standing their naturalness,) as compared with their surround- 

 ings. 



The fruit and vegetable gardens are situated about half a 

 mile northward of the mansion, occupying about 12 acres, 

 and contain the Victoiia Regia house, 68 feet by 49 feet, 

 where the first specimen of this gem of South American 

 waters was propagated. One of the first flowers, and a leaf 

 nearly six feet in diameter, was presented to Her Majesty, the 

 Q.ueen, on the 9th of November, 1849. This unique structure 

 was the germ from whence sprung the idea of the grand 

 building at Hyde Park and Sydenham. At the north 

 end of the garden is Sir Joseph Paxton's residence : an Anglo- 

 Italian villa on a large scale, with a fine tower and all the ne- 

 cessary offices — a model structure of its kind, and charmingly 

 located on the margin of the park, with the grounds taste- 



VOL, XXI. NO. XI. 65 



