MamocJcs Floricultural Magazine. 43*/ 



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said that these gardens occupy one of the most delightful points amidst that 

 scenery ; to the effect of which, indeed, they already materially contribute. 

 Seen from the London road, on entering the town, the ground forms a gentle 

 slope, having nearly a southern aspect, and at the upper extremity uniting, as 

 it were, with the termination to that beautiful sweep of villa landscape for 

 which the western precincts of Sheffield are deservedly celebrated. The whole 

 is enclosed with a substantial wall of stone, and entered at the upper end by 

 a handsome arched gateway of wrought stone, with side lodges, Doric columns, 

 and entablature ; the whole designed in a chaste and effective style. Imme- 

 diately on gaining admission by this entrance, the eye not only commands a 

 view of the diversified arrangements of the garden close at hand, but takes in, 

 at the same time, the rich and varied panorama presented by the neighbour*- 

 ing landscape, and by the country for miles beyond. 



" Between the grand entrance just described, and the residence of the 

 curator (a capital ornamented stone building), extends, along the upper part of 

 the garden, the magnificent range of conservatories so admu-ably represented 

 in the engraving [a vignette woodcut, of which the impression in our copy of 

 the Magazine is very indifferent]. The entire line of frontage is 100 yards; 

 but the extensive and beautiful structure itself is divided, it will be seen, into 

 five parts, the narrowest of which is 24 ft. in width. The tei-minating build- 

 ings, as well as that in the centre, forming noble and commodious green- 

 houses, the unglazed portions being built in front of rubbed stone, and having 

 pairs of Corinthian pillars alternating with the vertical sashes. Each of these 

 houses is covered by a quadrangular glazed dome, constructed of metalHc 

 ribs, connected and surmounted in the centre with an ornamental casting. 

 The two intermediate portions of the pile, occupying each an extent of 30 

 yards, are of somewhat less elevation : the glazed roofs are arranged in low 

 parallel ridges, supported and strengthened by cast-iron trusses and pillars. 

 The first green-house that was built on this principle was erected in the 

 gardens of His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, designed and completed under 

 the zealous and skilful superintendence of Mr. Paxton. There are, of course, 

 connected with these conservatories, the requisite forcing-houses and other 

 usual conveniences. 



" The whole of the buildings are allowed to reflect the highest credit on 

 the professional taste and skill of our townsman, Mr. B. B. Taylor, the 

 architect. 



" From the front of the central conservatory, a grand promenade path, 180 

 yards long, and 26 ft. in width, descends to the margin of a circular tank, con- 

 taining a fountain, as represented in the foreground of the engraved view. 

 Below this, the ground is artificially laid out in rockwork, including, also, 

 ponds, subterranean archways, hermitage, rustic bridge, &c. Of these, as well 

 as the general details of the gardens, the conductor of the Floricultural 

 Magazine must leave others to judge and to speak: for the designs and ex- 

 ecution of the whole, however, he is certainly responsible, the Committee of 

 Management having entrusted to him the entire direction of the laying out of 

 a plot of ground which, with all the inherent physical capabilities ordinarily 

 to be expected, comprised also such rare concomitants of situation and pro- 

 spect, as to stimulate his utmost endeavours, not merely to satisfy his em- 

 ployers, but to accredit their choice and confidence in the estimation of the 

 public generally. 



" It ought to be stated, that the Committee of Management have acted, in 

 every thing pertaining to the discharge of their office, with a degree of liber- 

 ality and public spirit which must entitle them to the praise of having added 

 to the charming neighbourhood of Sheffield a new and most attractive feature." 



We find, from an advertisement on the wrapper of this maga- 

 zine, that the Florigraphia Brita.nnica, or, Engravings and De- 

 scriptions of the Flowering Plants and Ferns of Britain, by Richard 



Vol. XII. — No. 77. k k 



