124 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. 



and taking a smaller boat here, to pass up the beautiful 

 Clyde, we reached Glasgow before 9 in the evening. 



Our letters here were to Messrs. Austin & Son, nurserymen, 

 who have a warehouse in the city, and a nursery just at the 

 outskirts of the town. We were fortunate to meet with Mr. 

 Austin, Jr., who, with the greatest kindness, offered to ac- 

 company us in our visit, during the day, to some of the gar- 

 dens in the neighborhood, and early we were on our route to 

 the 



Glasgow Botanic Garderi. — This garden is pleasantl^r sit- 

 uated about three miles from the city. It covers several 

 acres, and, though but recently laid out and planted, the trees 

 and shrubs, &c., had attained considerable size. The house 

 of the curator, Mr. Murray, with whom we walked through 

 the grounds and whose hospitality we shall not soon forget, 

 and the range of houses for plants, have an imposing aspect, 

 being placed on a terrace somewhat elevated from the entrance 

 gate. From thence, the ground still ascends, and, on the 

 highest point, a magnificent view is obtained of the country 

 around. To the north, the Trossacks stretch out ; on the 

 west, towers up Dumbarton Castle ; to the south, we overlook 

 the County of Ayrshire, and Lanarkshire lies on the East ; 

 and, at the base of the hill, on the other side, flows the beau- 

 tiful river Kelvin. 



The first house of the long range is devoted to Ericas, of 

 which there exist so many fine collections in Scotland. Here 

 we saw the pretty taxiflora, and triceps, in fine bloom, with 

 some others less noticeable. Passing into the main house, we 

 saw a fine i2hododendrum arboreum, ten feet high, and well 

 branched, full of buds. Here, too, were some fine acacias, 

 and other New Holland plants. The next compartment was 

 devoted to fuchsias, of which E'ppsw and fulgens were su- 

 perb, particularly the latter, which we have before noticed. A 

 Palm house was filled with good specimens, among others, 

 a fine Chamse^ops humilis, Zamia h6rrida, Stretilzia augus- 

 ta. Bananas in fruit, and other tropical trees. Another com- 

 partment was filled with an excellent collection of Cacti ; and 

 in another large house, corresponding with the main one, be- 

 fore noticed, were Astrapae a Wallichti, cofiee tree, hibiscuses, 

 &c. A house of camellias; one of AmaryUises^ crinums, &c.j 



