visited in tlie early part of March, 165 



specimens of camellias, orange trees, &c. We noticed, in par- 

 ticular, two very large OMea IVugrans, a large Jambbsa vulgaris, 

 Magnolia conspicua, and double pomegranate; also, a fine plant 

 of the Phce^nix rfactylifera. Mr. Peiry has just began to make 

 a collection of camellias, and we noticed several plants of the 

 choice varieties, such as elegans, eximia and Floyi ; these 

 were planted out near the edge of the large bed, in the centre of 

 the house, and will probably make a vigorous spring growth. A 

 rhododendron, called the R. arboreura var. Russellidntnji, but 

 which was not true, was about expanding its blossoms; it was a 

 very beautiful variety. A species of Cassia, marked sp. nova, 

 with large bright yellow flowers, was exceedingly ornamental. 



On the shelves we noticed plants of Diosma capitata, Choriz- 

 ema rhombea, Bletia /lyacinthina, Cineraria amelloides, 

 Stylidium adnatum, and among a good collection of cactuses, 

 the Echinocactus Eyriesii; this beautiful species we have found 

 in several gardens during our late visit; it is said to possess great 

 elegance, but being a night flowering one, is rendered less valu- 

 able. We do not know that it has ever flowered in the country; 

 but we saw plants, during our visit, which were showing buds, 

 and it will undoubtedly perfect its elegant blossoms, this spring, 

 in several collections both around New York and Boston. This 

 species seldom throws out any oflsetts, and is consequently in- 

 creased very slowly; it has been noticed in our ii. pp. 101, 347. 



The conservatory here is heated on the same system as Mr. 

 Becar's, and the whole apparatus is precisely like his. The 

 length and width of Mr. Perry's conservatory is about the same 

 as that of Mr. Becar's; and the only superiority it possesses over 

 his, is the facility with which it is entered from the parlor; ad- 

 joining immediately to the house, it is accessible at any moment 

 during the day or evening. We noticed that elegant lamps were 

 suspended in different parts of the conservatory; these, on many 

 occasions, are lighted, and an evening promenade, much more 

 extensive than most city gardens aflbi'd even in the summer season, 

 and certainly presenting to the eye a far richer display of blossoms, 

 can here be enjoyed during the most inclement weather of our 

 long winters. The advantages are so many and important, of 

 having the green-house connected with the mansion, either through 

 the library or parlor, that we have often wondered at their gen- 

 erally isolated situation. This is particularly the case around 

 Boston, where there is scarcely a green-house, certainly not one 

 of any size or beauty, which connects with the living rooms of 

 the dwelling house. We hope that those who are about erect- 

 ing plant structures will bear this in mind. 



We were glad to learn that Mr. Perry has already contempla- 

 ted the extension of his conservatory; it is his intention to make 

 it nearly twice its present length, and the new addition will be 



