158 HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



is probably very instrumental in inducing the flowering 

 state. In England, where they are kept constantly under 

 cover, some species scarcely ever shew their flowers. The 

 Mesembryanthemums are also placed together, and the col- 

 lection of these is respectable. What are called Cape 

 Plants are kept in a frame by themselves ; but of these the 

 collection is less than we should have expected, considering 

 that the Dutch so long possessed the southern point of 

 Africa. Pelargoniums, Geraniums and Erodiums are as- 

 sembled on a stage; and we saw them at this time to ad- 

 vantage, many species being in flower. We were much 

 disappointed with the collection of what are called Ameri- 

 can shrubs ; the number of species being not only very li- 

 mited, but the specimens indifferent. The soil we should, 

 on a slight inspection, have pronounced favourable to their 

 growth, as it consists of a mixture of vegetable earth, not 

 unlike surface peat soil, mixed with fine sand ; but it proves 

 too porous and light for rhododendrons, kalmias and azaleas. 

 The botanical salicetum is rich, containing no fewer than 

 seventy species of Salix. 



There is an extensive series of herbaceous plants, chiefly 

 perennial, arranged according to the classes and orders of 

 Linnaeus ; and the plants used in medicine, or, to speak 

 more correctly, the plants enumerated in the Dutch Phar* 

 macopoeia, are grouped in a quarter by themselves. 



Great attention is here paid to affording shade to the fin^ 

 er and more delicate herbaceous plants. Expressing our 

 surprize at seeing the borders stuck full of common alder 

 twigs, which were now growing luxuriantly, we were told 

 that they were intended for " shading the flowers.'" We 

 ((Mild more readily perceive the utility of shading, where 

 we next saw it practised, in the case of plants kept in pots 

 under glass-frames: here the screens were very neat, con- 



