594 Bohemia Park, near Hastings. 



as far as regards that portion adjoining the high road ; but the 

 principal improvements are in the garden. 



On the east side of the house, and adjoining to it, is a large 

 green-house, which contains some fine specimens of geraniums, 

 particularly Smith's new scarlet; also May's new fuchsias, many 

 species of Cacti, a fine plant of Abiitilon striatum, and a quantity 

 of young plants of Araucaria imbricata, raised there from seed, 

 the whole of which were very healthy. In front of the house is 

 a broad terrace walk, with which I was particularly struck ; it 

 being apparently very hard and level, an occurrence very unusual 

 in this neighbourhood, from the want of good gravel. The gar- 

 dener, Mr. Fielder, informed me it was composed of pounded 

 chalk, and fine shingle from the sea-side, made into a mortar, 

 laid down in its wet state, 6 in. thick, and rolled as soon as it 

 got a little set; it appeared almost like a solid pavement. Two 

 feet below this walk, and divided from it by a green bank, is a 

 piece of level turf about 50 ft. wide, from which you descend by 

 a flight of steps to the flower-garden. This is divided from the 

 lawn by a neat stone wall, having a southern aspect, the top be- 

 ing on a level with the lawn : there were some fine plants of Ery- 

 thrina Crista galli, Salvia patens, splendens, fulgens, involucrata, 

 &c., planted against it, beautifully in flower. The flower-garden 

 is laid out in beds of various shapes, the whole forming a square. 

 The walks are 4 ft. wide, made with the same sort of materials 

 as the above terrace. The beds are judiciously planted with cal- 

 ceolarias, heliotropiums, geraniums, pansies, berberries, &c., 

 also several fine specimens of Tropse^olum tricolorum, and about 

 150 varieties of China roses, many of them first-rate sorts. Mr. 

 Fielder informed me that he has a splendid collection of bulbs, to 

 take the place of the tender plants as soon as they are destroyed 

 by frost. 



To the south of this, and leading to the kitchen-garden, which 

 is entirely out of view, are the pleasure-ground and shrubbery, 

 containing some beds of roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, and other 

 shrubs, as well as many choice coniferous plants ; among others, 

 Araucaria imbricata; the whole of which are growing luxuri- 

 antly, and appear to stand the sea air well. Below this shrub- 

 bery is the kitchen-garden, containing about one acre, surrounded 

 by a wall 12 ft. high, into which are built iron loops ; willow rods 

 are introduced through them to train the trees to, and answer 

 the purpose very well: thus, nailing is entirely done away 

 with. 



The young trees, which were planted at the time of the forma- 

 tion of the garden, two years ago, are in a very promising state. 

 The walks have brick edges, which in many situations are pre- 

 ferable to box, or any of its substitutes. On the north side of 



