522 Notes on Gardens and Country Seats: — 



herbaceous plants to die off without renewing them, and those 

 that remained, to cover the surface in a natural manner. The 

 hot-house, which, in Mr. Biggs's time, was filled with the 

 most choice tropical plants of that day, was turned into a 

 vinery, as was also the large green-house; and the smaller 

 hot-houses and pits were neglected, or used for raising early 

 cucumbers and potatoes for sale. Mr. Castles, having been 

 known to the late Mr. Swainson, was allowed by his widow 

 a certain licence as to restoration ; and the very existence of 

 the place as a botanic garden may be said to be entirely 

 owing to his enthusiasm. He is allowed a very inadequate 

 sum for keeping the whole in order, and the privilege of 

 selling plants. The latter privilege amounts to next to nothing 

 in a pecuniary point of view ; but it enables Mr. Castles to 

 make exchanges with other botanic gardens ; and thus, in 

 some degree, to keep up the character of the place. All the 

 circumstances considered, he has the highest merit ; and we 

 hardly know any one but himself, who, with such slender 

 means, could maintain so respectable an appearance, and who 

 could bear up so well against an increasing pressure of dif- 

 ficulties. Whoever wishes to see the ruins of a botanic garden 

 of the old school, combining a Linnsean arrangement with a 

 general disposition of the masses in beds, so as to produce 

 ornamental or picturesque effect, ought to visit this garden. 

 They will there see some curious specimens of trees and 

 shrubs, and some good ferns. If they wish to purchase 

 herbaceous plants, they may procure a collection of 500 or 

 600 of the commoner sorts cheaper than they can get them 

 anywhere else. On looking into the back sheds, we were 

 astonished at the completeness of the original arrangements. 

 There were seven pumps with cisterns, and places for mould, 

 pots, tools, &c. Mr. Swainson, we were informed by Mr. 

 Castles, delighted to have every thing perfect of its kind ; 

 and Mr. Castles seems to take equal delight in struggling 

 against adverse circumstances, so as to maintain a degree of 

 order and neatness in these sheds corresponding with the 

 original arrangements. There is still a collection of choice 

 botanical works in the house, and a herbarium in good pre- 

 servation. The place was originally laid out and planted 

 by the late Mr. Grimwood of Kensington. On leaving it, 

 a cedar was pointed out to us, on the entrance front of the 

 house, which had been struck by lightning, the effect of 

 which was to occasion a number of woody globular ex- 

 crescences to protrude themselves from the trunk. A species 

 of lettuce was also shown us, raised from seeds received from 

 an adjoining oil mill. These seeds are said to be imported 



