228 THE PARKS AND GAEDENS OP PAEIS. [Chap. XV. 



are some notable exceptions to the monotonous repetitions which 

 we deplore. In Mr. Llewellyn's garden at Penllergare, in 

 "Wales, might haye been seen a few years ago an orchid-house 

 aquarium where lovely denizens of the tropics were planted in the 

 admirable disorder which they present in their native forests. 

 True, it was only on a small scale, but the effect produced was 

 most pleasing. Again, at Paris, in the Garden of Acclimatisation 

 in the Bois de Boulogne, is a large house, which is planted in an 

 attractive manner, representing a tropical scene, with rockwork, 

 a cascade falling into a pool, and a rivulet meandering through 

 a "valley of Selaginellas. There would be little difficulty in 

 beautifying in like manner the Palm-house at Kew, the large 

 pavilion of the Museum at Paris, the Horticultural Society's fine 

 conservatory at South Kensington, a portion of the Crystal 

 Palace at Sydenham, the large houses at Sion and Chatsworth, etc. 

 When in Belgium last year I visited the seat of M. Yarocque, 

 at Mariemont, where a new winter-garden, between fifty and sixty 

 feet high, had been erected on the site of an old Orangery, in 

 which a Belgian landscape-architect of some note (M. Fuchs) had 

 essayed to introduce the style I advocate. Magnificent Palms, 

 Tree-ferns, Oycads, etc., form the principal features in this large 

 building, with an undulating carpet of Selaginellas beneath them. 

 Immediately facing the grand entrance door was an artistic group 

 of rockwork flanked by a miniature basin, and planted with 

 evident care. But, in our opinion, the result was not commen- 

 surate with the pains bestowed. The walks are too winding, the 

 surface too uneven, the rockery too imposing to appear natural, 

 and the plantations confused, the sides being naked, and the 

 centre excessively dense. The artist aimed at the picturesque, 

 but he has failed to produce it in consequence of too great pro- 

 fusion, to the detriment of the general effect and the loss of 

 harmony in the details. We cite this example to show that it 

 is easy to err in carrying out the best.of ideas, and that exaggera- 

 tion in the intended natural style is more to be deprecated than 

 crowding in the unmitigated uniformity of houses with stages and 

 benches. Even in winter-gardens where the aim has been to 

 produce picturesque effect, there is always something in the 

 structure to remind us of the artificial surroundings. Thus, 

 walks are indispensable, and they should be of sufficient breadth 



