REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. 221 



narael_y : one for a common greenhouse ; one for ferns and palms ; 

 two for stove plants ; two for grapes ; one for an orchard house ; 

 two for peaches ; one for plums ; and one for apricots and plums. 

 All these were in admirable condition, and the ferns, palms and 

 stove plants exhibited a most luxuriant aspect — decidedly tropical ! 

 The following are some of the most valuable decorative plants 

 of recent introduction here : 



Draccena Ilooreana, Croton Youngii, 



" Chelsonl, " Weisimanni^ 



" Baptistii, " Veitchii, . 



" Youngii, " cormitum, 



" imperialism Pandanus VeitcJiii, 



" amabih's, Dieffenbackia Bausei, 



" magnijica, Cypripedium Daycmum, 



' ' porphyroph yUa , 

 the elegant palm Cocos Weddelliana (Glnziova elegantissima) , and 

 the Phormium Colensoi, which far surpasses the Phormimyi tenax 

 variegata. 



The beautiful climbers, Bovgainvillea speciosa, B. spectabilis 

 and Bignonia venusta, in the greenhouse, made a strong impression ; 

 and the hot-house plants, perfectly trained, excited unqualified 

 admiration. 



But the spacious Flower Garden — with its high hedges on the 

 south and west, and the dense foliage of the forest trees on the 

 north and east, spreading its soft cloth of green over the large 

 centre and side areas, where many elegant beds and standards 

 are inserted ; involving plants of every clime, new, or curious and 

 ingeniously arranged — was the study and the cynosure of all. 

 The plantings in no case approach within one or two steps of the 

 wide pathway. On one side, a long, straight ribbon of broad 

 stripes, with large plants of uniform size, attracted attention ; the 

 outer edge being of Golden Pyrethrum ; and then, successive rows 

 of Coleus Verschaffelti, fine Duchess Pelargoniums, Iresine Lindenii, 

 and Centaurea candidissima for a centre. 



Circles, and beds of various forms, and borders many feet 

 wide, outside the walk, are planted with a profusion of rich and 

 rare semi-tropical plants — Cannas, Erythrinas, Alocasias, Caloca- 

 sias, Aralias, Arundos, Phormiums, Agaves, Yuccas, Musas, and 

 DraccBnas in variety, including D. indivisa, D. australis, and D. 

 ferrea, — the last named being the best of all the dark foliaged 



