594. 



Garden Calls : — Bury Hilly 



stone or cream colour ; the stoves have lately been heated by hot water, by 

 Mr. Fowler (p. 453.), entirely to the satisfaction of Mr. Cameron. Mr. 



Fowler, in his boiler, combines the improvement of Mr. Cottam (Vol. IV. 

 p. 17.), and one in use by several engineers, that of causing the flame com- 

 pletely to surround the boiler. He also places all his pipes on a gentle 

 slope to the boiler, in such a way that, when the water is not wanted, he 

 can, through a cock there, drain off the whole. He introduces in the pipes 

 several air-holes, which facilitate circulation ; and, on the whole, he maybe 

 considered as having added something useful to the improvements already 

 made in this system of heating. Mr. Cameron lighted a fire, to show us in how 

 few minutes the pipes were heated from one end of the house to the other. 

 The plants in the houses are in the very best order; the collection i» 

 most numerous, and the rare species of far too frequent occurrence among 

 them to be noted down in a passing visit. The collection of ferns is con- 

 siderably increased since Mr. Cameron sent us his catalogue (Vol. IV. p. 1.). 

 In the border in front of the hot-houses, the usual sanctum for choice half- 

 hardy exotics, are many rare and fine things. Conium Arracdcha in good 

 health, but Mr. Cameron thinks there are two varieties or species, and is 

 doubtful whether this be the true one. O'xalis tetraphyllus Cav., and 

 another species, the roots of both of which are eaten, like those of the 

 Arracdcha. Ferbena chamaedryoides is trained against the wall, like a 

 tree, and, covered with its deep-scarlet blossoms, has a most splendid effect. 

 V. pulch^lla is also so trained, and looks well. There are many new and 

 rare things in the borders, and we hope Mr. Cameron will find leisure to 

 make a supplement to the list he formerly sent us. (Vol.11, p. 297.) In 

 front of the hot-houses is a fountain (see^g. 125. above), supplied by the 

 aquatic ram of Montgolfier, which also supplies an aquarium in another 

 part of the garden lately formed, different cocks in the compartments, the 

 offices behind the hot-houses, the gardener's house, and the family mansion 

 and offices. We have before alluded to this very ingenious machine 

 (Vol. III. p. 255.) when speaking of No. II. of the Library of Useful Knotv- 

 ledge, where it is described. No machine hitherto invented can effect so 

 much, with so small a quantity of water, and so trifling a fall. TheWashington 

 plum, introduced by Mr. Barclay, shows abundant crops on the walls, and is 

 now nearly ripe. In the open garden is an enormous 

 crop of large onions, which, Mr. Cameron informs us, he 

 never fails to have, by sowing in autumn, and transplant- 

 ing in rows early in spring. Success in this practice often 

 fails from the transplanter burying or dibbling in the bulb, 

 instead oi firming in, or pressing the earth to the fibres 

 only ; the bulb, or rather the part destined to become 

 the bulb or onion, ought to be entirely above ground, 

 or, at least, in loose earth. In the garden-room^ between 

 the green-house and vinery, we observed a straw seat 

 with a back, formed of layers of straw, in the manner of 

 the strawbee-hive {fig. 1 24.),which seems a clean and com- 

 fortable piece of garden furniture; and, in the tool-house, a two-edged blade. 



