THE GARDEN. ify 



summer. The eye is here arrested by the beau- 

 tiful Adam's needle, yucca, the flax of New Zea- 

 land, phormium tenax (i), the Mississipi laurel, 

 a large magnolia, the casuarina (2), the clethra, 

 and many plants from the south of France and 

 the Alps. In the rear of the garden is the orangery, 

 whose walls are covered with climbing plants, 

 especially the beautiful Virginian trumpet flower, 

 bignonia, so remarkable for its large bunches of 

 red flowers. 



The orangery is divided into two parts, one 

 of which only is arched. It has no stove : the 

 windows are defended by mats in very cold 

 weather, and in the spring are seen blooming 

 with Alpine plants, which cannot support our 

 climate though milder than their own, because 



(1) The phormium tenax with which the inhabitants of New Zealand 

 make their cloth, has some affinity with the aloe. It was first made 

 known by the voyage of captain Cook. The Museum having received 

 several slips at the return of captain Baudin, one was given to M. Faujas,, 

 who multiplied it in his garden near Montelimar, and spread it 

 through the southern departments of France. It is a precious acqui- 

 sition, as the ropes made of its leaves are twice as strong as those of 

 hemp. See the Annals of the Museum, vol. 2 and 17. 



(2) The casuarinas, which belong to the family of the coniferee, are 

 entirely destitute of leaves like the ephedra. Their slender, drooping, 

 articulated branches give them a very peculiar appearance. They 

 might be multiplied in the South of France, and their wood which is 

 hard, agreeably veined and susceptible of a high polish, would be very 

 useful in cabinet making : in New Holland it is preferred to every other 

 for ship-building. 



