208 JOUKNAL OF THE EOYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



undoubtedly aids it in producing a profusion of blossoms. In the some- 

 what shaded nooks of this terraced garden good use is made of the Myrtle, 

 particularly of the Box-leaved variety. Here and there a fine specimen of 

 Phormium Colensoi in a pot added to the effect, as did the fine-foliaged 

 Bonaparteas, especially B. juncea. Upon a broader plateau running 

 right and left in front of the Villa are the noted pergolas of Oranges, 

 Lemons and Citrons, a sight well worth the journey to see. Where it is 

 possible (not in this country, of course), no better subject can be chosen 

 with which to cover a pergola. One scarcely knows which to admire the 

 more, the beauty of the fruits or the fragance of the many flowers. 

 Among the many fine plants upon this plateau are some of Musa Ensete, 

 with a little carpet-bedding surrounding them — somewhat, I think, out 

 of place. After passing through the cool marble saloons, so well known 

 to tourists, we come upon huge but graceful masses of Bamboos including 

 Phyllostachys mitis, P. aurea, and P. nigra, a trio that it is hard to beat. 

 These are very tall, especially P. mitis, and in luxuriant growth, and are 

 well placed in the immediate neighbourhood of the Villa itself. Bambusa 

 japonica (syn. B. Metake) was not far removed from these, and fully 

 20 feet in height, forming quite an archway over the path. 



These gardens also are noted for their fine specimens of Magnolia 

 grandiflora, the largest of which is quite a tree, nearly 60 feet in height, 

 with a stem measuring 5 feet in circumference at a few feet from the 

 ground. Near this Magnolia is a grand old plant of Wistaria sinensis, 

 also with a fine trunk of its own near the ground, while higher up its 

 branches seek support from other trees. In a sheltered and moist spot 

 grows a fine example of Philodendron sp., the ground being carpeted 

 with the blue Lycopodium — L. caesium — in its true colour. Soon after we 

 came upon quite a forest of Phyllostachys mitis, the finest mass I have 

 ever seen, about 40 feet in height, with stout, robust stems. 



Here, too, there are, as may be expected, several fine specimens of 

 palms. A sturdy old veteran is Phoenix dactylifera, with a stout stem 

 of fine proportions. Brahea filamentosa (syn. Pritchardia filifera) is also 

 a prominent object in a sunny position and in a similar situation there is 

 a fine specimen of Gocos australis, a slow-growing, but extremely 

 handsome palm when seen, as here, with its typical glaucous-grey foliage. 

 In another spot Phoenix canariensis, which grows so well along the 

 Eiviera, is equally at home here. Of the Chamaerops there were dense 

 masses of G. humilis in their true character with glaucous-green leaves, 

 and of C. Fortunei, which with their tall stems, had a distinctly good 

 effect. Several of these palms were to be met with in well chosen 

 situations, and generally upon sloping ground, their needs as regards 

 moisture being undoubtedly supplied from the water percolating through 

 the soil from the higher levels. 



The same remark applies to the many fine examples of the Conifera? 

 to be seen here, as at the Villa Vigoni. At the Villa Carlotta, however, 

 there is a preponderance of trees that are of a rather more tender 

 character ; the difference in altitude will explain this. Among the 

 many large trees the most notable are Abies orientalis, 50 feet or more in 

 height, quite hardy in cooler localities, but here in fine condition ; Picea 

 Morinda (syn. Abies Morinda), also evidently quite at home ; Cupressus 



