380 Remarks on various English Gardens. 



Gray, Malcolm, Lee, Colville, Knight, Whitley, Milne, &c. 

 The exotic collection of Mr. Lee seemed to me almost as 

 extensive as that of Messrs. Loddiges, if I except the pahns ; 

 and Mr. Knight's camellias appeai'ed superior to those of any 

 other nursery. The flower-forcing at Colville's is very rich, 

 though I think we force flowers on a much larger scale in Ger- 

 many than you do in England. For instance, in Frankfort, 

 every winter, when the balls are in season, it is not a very un- 

 common practice to decorate the whole house, the entrance 

 hall, and all the rooms, stairs, and passages, with flowering 

 plants and forced flowers ; sometimes with flowering orange 

 trees, large specimens of acacias, &c. ; thus transforming the 

 house into a garden, and affording a beautiful sight. This we 

 practise in Frankfort, not only on the above-mentioned occa- 

 sions, but, on great festivals, in the cathedral and other churches. 

 Perhaps the custom exists in England, but not to my knowledge. 

 I much felt the want of a splendid flower-market in London, 

 where one might admire every day a beautiful exhibition; and 

 it would certainly encourage the trade, delight amateurs, and 

 contribute to the interest and ornament of the metropolis. 



But with respect to the London nurseries, I must confess 

 that I was every day more astonished at them. I saw the fine 

 collection of Cape and other plants by Messrs. RoUison, the 

 forcing-houses of Jenkins, the collections of Messrs. Bassing- 

 ton. Brooks, Smith, Henderson, Chandler, Cormack, Young, 

 &c., and also the Kensington forcing-gardens, with all of which 

 I was very much delighted. There are no where else in the 

 world so many large and well kept collections assembled to- 

 gether. To be able merely for once to look at those places 

 would be a sufficient inducement to the Continental gardener 

 to visit England. 



The Garden of the Horticidtural Society at Chiswick seems 

 to be pretty well kept ; all the plants stand perfectly well, and 

 some fine new ones were in flower. I was very much pleased 

 with some arrangements, and, amongst others, with the various 

 modes of training in the fruit department ; but, in my humble 

 opinion, the flower and American plant departments might, 

 have been much better laid out than they are. The space is 

 sufficiently extensive to admit of producing a fine effect, which 

 would have greatly contributed to the beauty of the garden. 

 The round groups of shrubs are in part too small and uniform. 

 The second time I visited the garden I saw Alstroemerm pul- 

 chella, Maurandy« Barclayaw«, and the wonderful Glycine 

 sinensis [Wistarm Consequawa] in full flower. 



Keia Gardens. — In the middle of last month (April) I made 

 a tour in the country, and the first place I stopped at was Kew 



