78 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



Some pimento-trees (Myrtus pimenta), about twelve feet in 

 height, pleased us much ; and a large specimen of the rare 

 cinnamon-tree of Ceylon (Laurus cinnamomum), which had 

 been procured when the Dutch had settlements there, was 

 very gratifying. Passiflora angustifolia of Hortus Kewen- 

 sis, hung in festoons from the rafters, and was now cover- 

 ed with flowers. The hot-house at the farther extremity 

 contains chiefly some of the palm tribe, and tender succu- 

 lent plants. Two specimens of the sago-palm (Cycas re- 

 voluta) are admirable ; being allowed ample space, they 

 extend their beautiful pinnated fronds without restraint. 

 Several plants of Cactus grandiflorus were very luxuriant, 

 and had recently produced many flowers. Part of this 

 hot-house is fitted up as an aviary, chiefly for singing-birds 

 of warm climates, though we observed also some domesti- 

 cated quails and turtle-doves. In this aviary, different 

 sorts of common evergreen shrubs are planted, for the 

 birds to perch upon. 



The floor of the greenhouse and hot-houses being ele- 

 vated about nine feet, and supported on groin arches, as 

 already noticed, there are necessarily extensive apartments 

 below. Here the furnaces arc situated ; and an enlarged 

 idea of the grandeur of this establishment for exotic gar- 

 dening may perhaps be imparted, by mentioning the simple 

 fact, that nine furnaces are employed in heating the range. 

 Owing to the same circumstance of the height of the floors, 

 an opportunity has been found of forming a suite of small 

 peach and grape houses in front of the large hot-houses. 

 The peach-trees, which are trained to the back walls, 



to resemble veal and lamb, and old poultry be rendered as tender as chickens, 

 the space occupied by the papaws would certainly not be ill employed. The 

 late Dr Holder hai given an account of the intenerating effect of the papaw 

 H the 3d volume Of the Wernerinn Memoirs, 



