406 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. 



which usually prevails, so totally different from our clear, 

 warm and drying heat, so injurious to young plants of all 

 kinds when fully exposed to its influence ; and it will at once 

 account for the ease and superior manner in which heaths 

 may be cultivated where there is scarcely any danger of the 

 sunniest days injuring the foliage, or drying up the soil, of 

 a single plant, if accidentally left exposed. 



Upon the wall, we observed a tree of the Blue Imperatrice 

 plum in full fruit, and now covered with netting to protect the 

 fruit from wasps and other insects. We found it to be an 

 excellent variety, and quite unlike the Semiana of Boston, 

 which, by the late Mr. Manning, was set down as synony- 

 mous : — we tasted the fruit, and we were glad of so good 

 an opportunity of deciding what wc had been convinced of 

 for some time, that the two were unlike. The Blue Impera- 

 trice is a valuable late plum. 



Leaving the kitchen garden and farmery, Mr. Redding 

 conducted us around the park, first visiting the celebrated 

 grotto erected here, and ^\ Lich alone is well worth a visit ; 

 it was constructed by Mr. Bushell, one of the best cascade 

 artists that has ever appeared in England. It is formed of 

 shells. From the front of this grotto, in a clear day, the 

 dome of St. Paul's is visible in the distance, and in the fore- 

 ground is a fine sheet of water. Continuing on, we crossed 

 a bridge, passing some old ruins covered with ivy, which we 

 were told had been the Prince of Conde's Chapel, on his resi- 

 dence here, and returned to the house now on the open lawn, 

 and again beneath the shade of immense oaks and beeches, 

 and through a dense undergrowth of rhododendrons which 

 flourish finely in the soil at Wimbledon. 



Attached to the house is a large architectural conservatory, 

 filled vdth a variety of plants, including several large camel- 

 lias, acacias, ^c In the winter season, this is replenished and 

 kept brilliant by bringing plants from the reserve house, and 

 also the other houses in the Flower Garden. Such a con- 

 servatory affords a constant source of enjoyment, and, espe- 

 cially in our climate, this should always be near to, or adjoin 

 the house. 



( To be continued.) 



