THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE^ 



APRIL, 1835. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Notes on Gardens and Country Seats, visited,Jro7n July 27- 

 to September 16., during a Tour through Part of Middlesex, Berk- 

 shire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Hamp- 

 shire, Sussex, and Kent. By the Conductor. 



(Continued from p. 63.) 



Aug. 24. — Captain JRainier's Villa and Garden^ about a mile 

 from Southampton, are well worth visiting, as a specimen of how 

 much may be got into little compass. In front of the house there 

 is a small lawn, tastefully varied by groups of flowers and shrubs, 

 with a fountain and some other architectural ornaments. Among 

 the finer plants are camellias and myrtles as standards, the New 

 Zealand hemp, and a species of bamboOj and also the common, 

 ^rundo Donax, growing luxuriantly. The two latter plants are 

 particularly interesting, from their Oriental appearance ; and, 

 being placed on the margin of ponds, in this mild climate, they 

 produce an astonishing effect. There is a green-house, containing 

 the celebrated banyan tree ; on the rooting of which Captain 

 Rainier sent a paper to the Horticultural Society. (See I. 67.) 

 An adjoining hot-house contains a magnificent banana plant ; a 

 large Cattley's guava, covered with fruit ; and an Anbna Cheri- 

 mblia, of large size, which has not yet fruited. The kitchen- 

 garden is well stocked with the very best sorts of fruit; among 

 which the nectarine plum, the pigeon's-heart plum, and a new 

 French plum which we tasted, were excellent. There are two 

 hot-houses for pines, grapes, and stove plants. On the whole, 

 there is an immense number of excellent things crowded toge- 

 ther in little space ; which are as well managed as, under these 

 circumstances, they can be, by the gardener, Mr. Dawson. A 

 detached building contains a museum of Egyptian antiquities, 

 highly spoken of; which, owing to Captain Rainier's absence, we 

 did not see. 

 Vol. XL — No. 61. n 



