598 MY GARDEN. 



Our vinery was well supplied with grapes. Lady Downe's and 

 West's St. Peter's were scarcely in perfection. Ingram's Prolific 

 Muscat and Snow's Muscat Hamburgh were excellent ; the Black 

 Hamburgh and Buckland's Sweetwater were rather past ; but White 

 Tokay, Canon Hall, Muscat of Alexandria, and Bowood Muscat were 

 perfectly good and hanging upon the trees. 



In my Cucumber-house the cucumbers were in flower, but none 

 were ready for the knife — probably in consequence of the dulness 

 of the weather. In this house the Dove orchid {Peristeria alata) 

 was in flower, and one Epidendrum. The beautiful Butterfly orchid 

 (Oncidium Papilid) was nearly in flower. 



In the Poor Man's House every plant looked in high perfection. 

 An Azalea was in flower; the pretty yellow Coronella was in full 

 bloom, so were several Cyclamens, Geraniums, and a few Camellias ; 

 one of the Nasturtiums (Fire-ball) was in flower, the yellow Linum 

 Trigynum and Acacia arinata were in bloom, which really looked 

 lovely, contrasting as they did with the white snow outside. 



The Fernery was in all its glory. To pass the threshold was to 

 pass from the wintry blast to spring. Overhead were a Jasmine and 

 two species of Passion-flowers, the Passifiora Kermesina and Passiflora 

 princeps. Amongst other plants, a scarlet Eschynanthus and the 

 scarlet Epiphyllum truncatum adorned the house, whilst two species 

 of Cypripediums and two species of Calanthe were in the greatest 

 perfection. The rare Amzctochylus Lowii was on the verge of 

 flowering. 



The Fernery was all that could be desired; but, alas! the cat 

 had got in and devoured my pet gold-fish. 



In the Cutting-house fine Rhubarb was to be found, and the Sea- 

 kale was growing in the sea-kale pots, well covered with heating 

 materials. 



The Apple-house was well stored with many varieties of fine and 

 excellent apples, but there were scarcely any pears, and those of no 

 account. 



Out of doors there was but one flower in blossom, namely, the 



