40 MY GARDEN. 



after the excitement of an overgrown city. The lower branches of 

 the willow-tree are turned down, and over them are trained roses, 

 honeysuckle, and clematis, to cover the bower. 



" Quite overcanopied with lush woodbine, 

 With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine." SHAKSPEARE. 



It is not possible for the writer to describe the fern glen by words, 

 nor is it possible for the artist to delineate it with his pencil. It 

 has been designed to embarrass the eye and bewilder the mind ; 

 and so well has it fulfilled this end, that visitors have observed that 

 it was a spot to be pictured by a fanciful imagination in their dreams, 

 but not actually to exist in the reality of nature. It forms many 

 pictures in various directions from the same spot, and Mr. Robertson 

 has made one representation looking towards the bower (plate 8), 

 and a second from the stepping-stones, at the end of the glen, looking 

 backwards through a shady vista to its centre (plate 9), which is so 

 contrived that it is lit up by the sun : 



" Sunshine in a shady place." SPENSER. 



The brook falls into the backwater below the overfall, and trout 

 delight to visit it, and when disturbed to rush back to a place of 

 shelter under the overfall. They may be watched for hours selecting 

 their food as it passes by. The stones of the brooks are covered with 

 insects, diatomes, and freshwater limpets. It truly may be said 



that : 



" He makes sweet music with the enamelled stones, 

 Giving a gentle kiss to every sedge 

 He overtaketh in his pilgrimage, 

 And so by many winding nooks he strays 

 With willing sport to the wild ocean." BROWNING. 



The land, as well as the water of my fern glen, is well furnished. 

 As we enter it we see gigantic osmundas rearing their stiff and majestic 

 forms ; enormous lady ferns gracefully showing their flowering feathery 

 forms, with the noble broad ferns expanding their curved fronds to 

 view. Every stump glistens with the golden-spored common poly- 

 pody, and near every stone the triangular oak fern shows its fronds. 



