APRIL. 



173 



Ross. The ornaments and borders are by Gruner. This is a 

 perfect gem of art, and a most fitting ornament to the garden 

 of the Qneen. From this point the large statue to the Duke 

 of Wellington, on the Triumphal Arch, at the top of Consti- 

 tution Hill, appears to be standing on a broad pedestal, none 

 of the arch being seen. This is decidedly the best view to 

 be had of that statue ; and, looked at against the clear, strong 

 light of a northern sky, towards evening, it is an exceedingly 

 bold and impressive object. 



This Royal Garden is a very creditable specimen, yet, iji 

 point of design and execution, and the manner in which it is 

 kept, it is far inferior to many gardens owned by the nobility. 

 This remark will hold good in regard to all the Crown parks 

 and her Majesty's private gardens, with the exception of the 

 Royal kitchen garden at Frogmore, which is probably the 

 best warden of the kind in existence. 



THE CHINESE YAM, OR DIOSCOREA BATATAS. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



No vegetable of recent introduction has attracted so much 

 attention, in so short a space of time, as the Chinese yam, or 

 Dioscorea batatas, as it is botanically called. It is only five 

 years since it was first introduced into France, and the past 

 season it was most extensively sought after and planted in' all 

 parts of that country. It received the attention of the most 

 experienced and distinguished cultivators, among whom were 

 MM. Yilmorin, Dutrochet, Pepin, and Decaisne, the latter of 

 whom tried various experiments in its cultivation in the gar- 

 den of the Museum of Natural History, and published a small 

 pamphlet, giving an account of its history and the particulars 

 of its culture. 



In England, also, it has received considerable attention, 

 and, through the exertions of Mr. Henderson of London, 

 who planted it to considerable extent, and published a full 



