NOVEMBER. 



169 



A SHORT VISIT TO KEW GARDENS. 



After entering these lovely gardens, which, the liberality of the British Government has 

 called into existence, yon do not travel far after passing the beautiful entrance-gate, on Kew 

 Green, before you find an exemplification of the art which has converted our northern 

 climate into that of a tropical region ; for on entering the Grecian conservatory you might 

 imagine its inmates were revelling in all the conditions of their natural life. The principal speci- 

 mens are comprised of New Holland plants, of which there are magnificent examples of 

 Banksia Solandra, at least 30 feet high ; also B. Cunninghami, B. integrifolia, and B. compar ; 

 Melaleuca stypteloides, and Eucalyptus Piiessiana, whose pendulous, Willow-like branches 

 contrast agreeably with the more rigid forms of the Banksias &c. There is also a good speci- 

 men of Clethra arborea, finely in bloom on the 18th of August, the date of my visit ; it is a 

 native of Madeira, with fine dark foliage somewhat like the Alder, and flowers resembling 

 the Deutzia. Intermixed with these are some handsome tree and other Ferns, the most 

 noticeable of which are Cyathea medullaris, Dicksonia antarctica, Gleichenia flabellata, 

 G. microphylla, and Pteris tremula. The side shelves are occupied by some well-grown 

 Fuchsias and other plants, Datura cornigera flora pleno being very conspicuous on account of 

 its large, double, white, highly-odoriferous flowers. 



Passing from house No. 1 along the main walk you soon reach what used, I believe, to 

 be the orangery, but which has lately been used as an exotic fernery. It is, probably, desti- 

 tute of many requirements necessary to a plant-structure, as it is now cleared of the Ferns, 

 among which, was the magnificent specimen of Angiopteris evecta, and which was, much to 

 the regret of all, robbed of some of its best fronds in order to remove it to tho Palm-stove. 

 The building is seemingly to be appropriated as a museum for specimens of timber and curious 

 examples of wood. Among those already placed here are some fine trunks of Palm, tree 

 Ferns, Dracaenas, &c. There is one singular example of the tenacity of some climbing plants 

 to the object supporting them : this is the trunk of a Palm encircled by a Fig; the latter has 

 twined, and united, and reunited its branches round the Palm in the most singular and 

 fantastic manner. A good idea of it may be formed by encircling your walking stick with 

 wire netting. 



Turning from the main into one of the side walks you find house No. 3, which is an old 

 lean-to occupied by various greenhouse plants, among which are good specimens of Statice 

 Holfordi, S. brassicsefolia, and S. sinuata profusa. There are also good plants of Campanulas, 

 which, when well grown and flowered as these were, are invaluable for decorative purposes, 

 especially such pyramidal varieties as C. Vidali and others of both the blue and white 

 class. 



No. 4 is a propagating-house, from which the public are excluded. 



No. 5 in the immediate vicinity is a lean-to stove, occupied almost entirely by a remark- 

 ably fine collection of Begonias. Among the most striking are healthy specimens of Adolpha 

 Pollock, Decora, Edward Ortgus, Hypargeria Lowii, Little Dorrit, Kollisson's grandis, Tarn 

 o'Shanter, Sam Weller, and Splendida argentea, together with numerous hybrids of the greatest 

 excellence. Intermixed with these are good plants of Cyanophyllum magnificum, Bussellia 

 juncea; and trained under the roof is a fine specimen of Clerodendron splendcns. Placed 

 upon the front shelf are some good Orchids, Achimenes, Begonias, and a variety of other 

 plants. 



No. 6 is known as the old aquarium, in which is grown in a slate tank a good specimen 

 of the Victoria regia, which is in good health, and this season has bloomed well. The tank 

 is built above the level of the floor, and the Lily has extended its leaves over the side, in 

 consequence of which their edges are somewhat disfigured by visitors constantly rubbing 

 them in their passage round the tank. The side shelves of the houses are occupied by a rich 

 and well-grown collection of Caladiums, of which Baraquini, Belleymei, Chantini, Perrietti 

 picturatum, and AVighti, figure most conspicuously. At the end opposite the entrance is an 

 extensive collection of Nepenthes or Pitcher-plants ; these are fine large plants, but do not 

 exhibit the very best health. There are also other plants remarkable for their fine foliage 

 distributed about the house, which include a good specimen of the handsome Calathea zebrina, 

 together with several fine Marantas, of which Fasciata flavescens and Porteana are 

 conspicuous. 



Having discovered No. 7 you find it occupied by a class of plants widely at variance 

 with the usual forms of vegetation. There are persons now living who may remember the 

 time when our greenhouses could exhibit but few examples of the curious genus Cacteae, 

 except the creeping Cereus, the Melon and Torch Thistles, and Indian Fig ; but such have 

 been the enterprise and success of botanical collectors, and the facilities of impregnation and 

 multiplication (or rather propagation), that to furnish a catalogue of the representatives of 

 the family contained in this structure would be a downright absurdity. I may, however, 

 venture to mention some few of the most strikingly curious — for instance, what can be more 

 strikingly curious than the magnificent specimen of Pilocereus senilis ? A casual observer 



