TROPICAL AND TEMPERATE HOUSES. 73 



ered with Selaginella ; and these cause the walk to 

 wind round about them, and down into a valley 

 with a small lake, in which are many choice aquatics, 

 the fine pendulous tufts of grass-like foliage of the 

 Egyptian paper-reed (Papyrus antiquorum) making 

 a beautiful contrast with such plants as Draccena 

 terminates, grandis, and Cooperi, various Marantas, 

 many ferns, both arborescent and dwarf-growing 

 species, Cyanophyllum magnificum, Alocasias, a 

 stately Theophrasta imperialis, and many other 

 plants with fine foliage and flower which surround 

 it. The crevices of the rocks are planted with 

 vast quantities of dwarf ferns, and Selaginellas 

 luxuriate in every possible place ; whilst peeping 

 out from amongst them here and there are such 

 plants as Goody era pu bescens and discolor, Cephalo- 

 tus follicularis, some handsome-leaved Eranthe- 

 mums, and many other little gems, which are 

 thriving splendidly. 



" Passing out into a fern-clad recess, and cross- 

 ing some water by a rustic bridge, you are in 

 the temperate house. Here also ferns are grow- 

 ing in the greatest luxuriance, the walk winding 

 round masses of stone arranged in a perfectly nat- 

 ural manner, over and amongst which the water 

 splashes and tumbles like a mountain rill. You 

 descend into a valley, and under some splendid 

 specimens of such ferns as Dicksonia antarctica, 

 Cyathea medullaris, Dicksonia squarrosa, Alsophila 



