October 26, 1876. J 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



369 



tree, but when it is surrounded by other lofty trees it loses 

 this characteristic. One here snrronnded by Lime trees is 

 120 feet in height, and the trunk 6 feet from the ground is 

 12 feet in circumference. The Beech is one of the most orna- 

 mental of forest trees ; its Bmooth bark, its dignity, its pen- 

 dulous boughs, and its glossy foliage render it a chief ornament 

 in any landscape. For public walks, drives, and avenues it 

 ranks in the first class for piotnreEque beauty. An avenue of 

 Beeohes may be seen from the fountains, as shown in the 

 engraving, running in a south-westerly direction. There is 

 no fear of Kensington Gardens becoming an open plain if the 

 planting of trees is carried out as it has been for the last forty- 

 five years. 



The Albert Memorial is a fine addition to the Gardens, and 

 is at all times a source of admiration to visitors, and the 

 general opinion of observers concerning this fine piece of work 



and down to a much later period there were restrictions in 

 force, giving the Gardens something of a private nature, but 

 now they are free. — N. Cole. 



A TWO-STOEETED PLANT HOUSE. 

 There can be no question about the present age being one 

 in which improvements in almost every department are being 

 sought for and adopted. Dwellings of all kinds are now-a-days 

 constructed on principles which adapt them better to their re- 

 quirements, and horticultural structures assume various forms. 

 The disposition to make the most that can be made of a given 

 space is in itself praiseworthy, and we now see crop succeed 

 crop with but little intermission. In the construction of build- 

 ings adapted for fruit or plant-growing vast improvements in 

 the construction and heatirig have taken place, and mechanical 



Fig. 53. — Kensington gaedens. 



is that the Prince was worthy of it, as he did so much for the 

 arts and sciences during his lifetime. This portion of Ken- 

 sington Gardens formerly belonged to Hyde Park, and a few 

 years back was taken away on the principle of robbing Peter to 

 pay Paul ; and those who can remember this corner when 

 belonging to Hyde Park, and will compare what it was then 

 with what it is now, will beet appreciate the alteration, for 

 what was an untidy and desolate-looking piece of ground has 

 been transformed into a charming pleasure ground. 



The long flower walk is the most fashionable and at the 

 same time the pleasantest promenade in the Gardens ; it is 

 700 yards long, and possesses many charms. The botanist of 

 high culture may be gratified and the publio be interested, for 

 here is a large assortment of choice trees and shrubs on each 

 side of the walk correctly named, and the shrubberies are 

 fringed with herbaceous, bulbous, subtropical, and bedding 

 plants. 



The Ivy oottage in the Gardens and its semicircular garden 

 plot opposite attracts thousands of admiring spectators during 

 the summer months, and for their comfort chairs are placed 

 in shady spots under the forest trees by which the cottage iB in 

 part surrounded. The round pond near the palace was made 

 in the reign of George II. by his consort Queen Caroline. 



The Gardens were almost private in the reign of George II., 

 the public being admitted on Saturdays only when the King 

 and Court were absent, and then only in full-dress costume, 



contrivances of vatious kinds have been brought into use. 

 Neither have improved modes of cultivation been neglected ; 

 and when a more simple plan is devised than that previously 

 adopted the knowledge thereby obtained is turned to account, 

 and plants requiring shade as well aB those delighting in the 

 full sunlight have been each accommodated with suitable 

 dwelling places. 



A noteworthy example of this as well as of the use that may 

 be made of a limited space was exemplified at one of those 

 fashionable villas which are rising in the neighbourhood of 

 large towns. In the case alluded to was attached to the resi- 

 dence a horticultural building of a kind I had not previously 

 seen, being, in fact, a two-storeyed conservatory ; not a gallery 

 or raised pathway over a plant house, enabling the observer to 

 look into the tops of the plants as in the large conservatories 

 of Kew, Chatsworth, and other places, but one plant house 

 over another, in the same manner that due dwelling room is 

 over another. The lower one of the two here alluded to was 

 devoted to Feme, while the upper one was for flowering plants, 

 being, in fact, a conservatory with creeperB, &e. I could only 

 obtain a passing glance of the two, yet I could see sufficient to 

 prove that the Ferus were doing well, and there could be no 

 reason why the flowering plants should not prosper equally 

 well. The upper structure was entirely of glass, the lower one 

 lighted all round with glass. 



The plan may be adopted elsewhere, but to me it w«3 new, 



