212 State of Horticulture in Italy. 



the centre; at another, an antique cottage; and, m a third, 

 was an extensive pheasantry, filled with white peacocks and 

 rare birds of beautiful plumage. Steep declivities were occa- 

 sionally covered with mesembryasthemum. There was a 

 fine clump of cedars of Lebanon, 20 feet high, and also some 

 groups of Eucalyptus. This villa, although evincing less 

 finish and expense than that of Torlonia, was, to my taste, 

 abundantly more pleasing. It was on the large scale of na- 

 ture herself 



The other royal villa is at Caserta, about 12 miles distant. 

 With the exception of the " English Garden" this will not 

 compare with Capo di Monte. This English Garden, how- 

 ever, is a gem of a place, for it contains only 30 acres, and is 

 a very beautiful imitation of nature. Here are winding walks, 

 fine turf, groups of shrubs, laurel, magnolias, and palms, fine 

 pendulous cypresses, Grecian temples, lakes with islands, and 

 tenanted by beautiful swans, waterfalls, and a clear stream 

 crossed by fancy bridges, and reflecting, from its surface, the 

 overarching trees while it meandered among the grounds, and 

 fell, in various cascades, over fantastic rock work. There 

 was here the largest camellia I have seen, its foliage being 

 about 25 feet in diameter ; also a camphor tree, 50 feet high. 

 In all these parks, the Magnolia grandiflora is a favorite tree, 

 and flourishes in perfection. 



The Villa Floridiana, a private establishment of about 30 

 acres, is also tastefully laid out, and will almost bear compar- 

 ison with either of the others. The skill of F. Denhardt has 

 also been exerted here, and with excellent effect. It contain- 

 ed a number of fine trees, among others, a cedar of Lebanon, 

 40 feet, and Magnolia ferruginea, 30 feet. These, with the Chi- 

 aja, or public promenade on the bay, are the only villas of note 

 near Naples. There is, however, an old villa now almost in 

 ruins, called the Villa Ricciardi, and formerly belonging to 

 the Comtesse de Camalduli, a family now extinct. It is re- 

 markable as possessing some large specimens of rare trees. 

 I saw there a Pinus cananensis over 100 feet high ; Euca- 

 lyptus, 50 feet ; oranges, 25 feet; English Yew, 25 feet; Swe- 

 dish Juniper, 40 feet ; and a beautiful Cupressus pendula, of 

 40 feet, with its thick leathery foliage, and branches droop- 

 ing to the ground. There was a good orchard of pear, plum, 



