168 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. 



in the garden of Mr. Johnson, of Lynn, three years ago, 

 plants, which were then in profuse bloom, and had been so 

 all summer, turned out of the pots into the soil ; the proba- 

 bility is that the plants have not been abundant enough to 

 give a fair trial. As they are easily propagated, and may be 

 sold almost as cheap as verbenas, we hope to hear of experi- 

 ments being tried to test their capability of enduring our 

 warm sun. 



In the orchideous house, that splendid climbing plant, Ipo- 

 mse'a Learii, was in fine bloom, displaying its rich blue flowers; 

 another species, called ficifolia, almost or quite as handsome, 

 was flowering freely in a small pot. The orchideous plants, 

 with one or two exceptions, were not in bloom ; indeed, Mr. 

 Moore informed us that they were just now getting up a col- 

 lection, preparatory to the erection of a suitable house. In 

 the frames we saw the beautiful Veronica speciosa, Lesche- 

 naultza grandiflora, and other new plants, in good health. 



A fine site is appropriated for the great conservatory ; and 

 when it is completed, and the improvements made around it, 

 by the removal of the buildings which already exist, it will 

 add greatly to its present arrangement. Mr. Marnock, the 

 curator, was absent at the time of our visit. 



The Parks of London. — Many individuals are not aware of 

 the immense extent of the parks of London. St. James's, Hyde 

 Park, Green Park, Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens, 

 contain upwards of 1200 acres. In each of them are lakes 

 or ponds of water, oftentimes crossed by handsome bridges. 

 Each of the parks has been judiciously planted with trees, 

 and there are many splendid specimens of lindens, oaks, 

 elms, &.C. Kensington Gardens have been recently greatly 

 improved by the removal of a brick wall about ten feet high, 

 and the erection of an ornamental iron paling. The eftect 

 of this can at once be imagined ; the long line of splendid 

 dwellings, which border on the Bayswater road, now com- 

 mand a view of the Park, while before they looked against a 

 solid wall. In certain parts of the Park, the public are 

 allowed to drive, and. in the gay season, immense numbers of 

 elegant carriages may be seen rolling through these sylvan 

 places, where as much of the country is enjoyed in the heart 

 of London as may be found within ten miles of many of our 



