Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



on solid iron posts, for the support of vines ; 

 and the garden plot and the entrance-drive 

 surrounded by a bare cast-iron railing. The 

 whole had an air of having cost a great deal of 

 money ; and to the eye of a garden lover, and 

 perhaps especially of an Englishman, the general 

 effect was appalling. 



Save for a few fine old trees, camphor trees, 

 magnolias and others, surrounding the house, 

 the domain was destitute of shade, for in the 

 winter the vines covering the pergolas are 

 almost leafless ; and this, combined with the 

 arid pavements and the too obtrusive iron 

 railings, gave a distressing air 'of bareness to 

 the place. But we put our trust in the vigour 

 of Madeira soil and air, and our confidence has 

 not been misplaced. We planted eucalyptus 

 trees where shade was most urgently needed, 

 and we have already specimens of those beautiful 

 trees at least thirty feet high. We dared to 

 run counter to public opinion in planting an 

 avenue of cypresses, here still the *' invisae 

 cupressi" of Horace, and held to be an 

 ornament for graveyards alone ; and already 

 our avenue is visible far and wide and imparts 

 something of a Mediterranean aspect to the 



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