Cambridge House. 13 



of slate. The house is warmed with hot water ; but, on account 

 of its loftiness, and of the quantity of glass used in its con- 

 struction, the frost must be with difficulty kept out in severe 

 weather. Attached to the mansion stands a conservatory, or 

 green-house, which is constructed in a superior style when com- 

 pared with the orangery. It is about 40 ft. long, with a span 

 roof of glass, heightened at the top, by the upper range of 

 lights on each side being raised on an upright range of glass 

 constructed upon the extremity of the lower range, and sup- 

 ported by elliptical and ornamental iron brackets, whicli give a 

 good relief, and particularly when they are clothed with creepers. 

 This house has a stage in the centre, and is well furnished with 

 plants ; while, by the assistance of several ornamental devices, 

 and a large vase containing gold fishes, it is rendered attractive, 

 and forms a handsome appendage to the drawingroom. 



The principal point of attraction from the grounds is the bank 

 on the opposite side of the Thames, which, rising suddenly, 

 forms Richmond Hill ; the slope of which, interspersed as it is 

 with villas, and covered with trees and shrubs of various kinds, 

 presents to the eye one of the most charming views conceivable 

 for so contracted a prospect. 



On driving through Petersham, I was invited in to see a small 

 place, the residence of R. Thorley, Esq., where I was pleasingly 

 struck with a small orange grove, consisting of about fifty or 

 more trees, neatly arranged in four rows ; the highest of them 

 being about 8 ft. Very many of these trees were loaded with 

 fruit, and all of them in a good healthy state: some of them are 

 of the blood-red, and others of different kinds of sweet oranges, 

 the fruit from which are sent to the table. Mr. Jones, the 

 gardener, may be reckoned a complete dahlia florist; and as such 

 he has a regular, though small, dahlia ground of sixteen yards 

 long by eleven yards wide, which is fancifully laid out in borders 

 and walks with box edgings. He has gained several prizes this 

 year. He has to struggle against a sandy soil for his peach 

 border, but which he manages admirably, so as, in general, to 

 have a full crop every year. In order to secure the bloom in the 

 spring, he has a length of bunting for the whole of the wall, 

 which is drawn up and let down at pleasure. The roots of his 

 trees run under the gravel walk, which is parallel with the wall, 

 leaving only about 5 ft. of border, on which scarcely anything 

 is suffered to grow. This small portion of border is kept well 

 mulched every summer, I think he said with cow-dung, which 

 is afterwards pricked in with the fork. In dry summers, almost 

 daily watering is resorted to, as otherwise the fruit would drop 

 before it arrived at maturity. Mr. Jones is not particular about 

 handsome training, but labours chiefly to have his wall filled ; in 

 which he succeeds extremely well ; and, at the present time, little 



