GENERAL PLAN OF THE GARDEN. 



43 



a bower which commands the pear-tree walk (plate i), the valley of 

 ferns with its brook, and a most charming view of Beddington Park. 



" Here can I sit alone, unseen of any, 

 And, to the nightingale's complaining notes, 

 Tune my distresses, and record my woes." — Shakspeare. 



Adjoining the valley of ferns we have a miniature forest of ferns, 

 where large tree ferns are planted out in summer with good effect ; 

 and thence crossing the brook by a stepping-stone, we arrive at our 

 outdoor exotic fernery. This is protected by stumps of trees, and is 

 so planted around that the force of cold winds is broken. Here 

 species of adiantums flourish, and stand severe winters. Here the 

 grand Lomaria chilcnsis shows its noble stiff foliage, so unlike that 

 of other ferns. Here the Woodwardla orUutalis and W. radicans live 

 but do not thrive. Here tire Cystopteris bulbifera grows like a weed, 

 and seems to emulate the Prussians by taking to itself the ground 





F'iG. 41. — Alpinei-y. 



which should belong to its neighbour. The water ferns come next, 

 then the wall ferns, where Asplenium germanicum and Ceterach grow 

 as though they were at home ; and then we examine the cave where 

 polypody covers the top, and scplopendium and other shade-loving 

 ferns live in the interior. 



The Saxifrage garden next comes to view, disclosing on the oppo- 

 site bank the Sempervivum garden and Sedum garden, when we 

 arrive at the Alpinery (fig. 41). This is a mound raised at one part, sunk 

 at a second, and sloping to the water's edge at a third, so as to 



