bushes these, but great trees twenty feet high or more, which have 

 stems some eight inches in diameter. In April they are still in their 

 sober spring livery, a delicate grey-green. By-and-by a stray pink 

 flower will appear, and then, by insensible degrees, the whole tree 

 will be flooded with the sweet pink bloom, until at length all green 

 will be hidden from view. 



At the head of the great stair we find ourselves in a small square 

 garden, a kind of forecourt. Immediately opposite, a last broad flight 

 of curving steps leads to the topmost level and to the casino. To right 

 and left are gateways, giving access to the gardens. A long stone seat 

 forms part of the terrace wall, and on every side, wall and balustrade, 

 gate-pier and iron fence, are swathed with greenery and rambling roses. 

 The architectural features are almost hidden from view, though, here 

 and there, a marble urn, or picturesque but nondescript finial, manages 

 to assert itself. 



It is on the outer wall of this court that the wistaria in the picture 

 disports itself. It throws out long branches and rambling tendrils in all 

 directions ; some away on to the side fences and over the gateways ; 

 others away among the branches of the neighbouring trees. Everywhere 

 one meets its all-embracing arms, twisting and clinging in an insinuating 

 fashion to all that comes within their reach. In the full tide of its 

 blossoming can anything be more exquisite ! How beautiful is the 

 delicate pale lilac of its long pendent flowers ! Well may the Japanese 

 place it among the elect in their paradise of flowers. 



Entering by the iron gate to the left of the house, we reach the 

 hanging garden. High walls shelter this from the mountain wind, the 

 tramontana. On the walls are trained tall lemon-trees. Happily these 

 trees are recognised throughout Italy as being ornamental as well as 

 useful, and are not banished to the kitchen garden. A low, long hedge 

 of Arbor Vitae towards the south allows a view of coast and sea. 

 Towards the east the high wall is broken through, a double curve 

 letting it down pleasantly to a little wrought-iron gate, from which steps 

 lead to the terrace below. It is an ideal " lay out " for a small garden. 

 Almost square in plan, it has straight walks around and across it, 

 meeting in the middle at a simple fountain, with low moulded marble 



129 R 



