CONTINENTAL GARDENS. 
309 
PRAGUE. 
Prague, though not precisely the geogra- 
phical centre of Bohemia, is its centre of in- 
dustry and commerce. The river Moldau 
runs through the town, and lends a picturesque 
appearance to the suburbs and surrounding 
country through which it passes. One of the 
commonest trees growing along the banks and 
the islets of the Elbe, is the white willow, 
which is allowed to grow in full freedom 
without being subjected to periodical ampu- 
tations. Its graceful silver branches rise and 
bend with the passing breeze, sweeping the 
smootli green turf underneath. Numerous 
groups of oak, beech, elms, pines, and birch, 
are freely scattered over the landscape and 
the neighbouring grounds, or cover the nu- 
merous islets to be seen on the river ; while 
the sharp peaks or rounded tops of the 
mountains are seen in the distance, and which 
are subsequently reached, when about forty 
miles from Dresden. These mountains are 
chiefly basaltic, often very high, and can be 
hewn with perfect ease, affording a valuable 
material for the purposes of building. 
DRESDEN. 
Dresden is a beautiful city situated on the 
banks of the Elbe, surrounded by verdant 
and fertile fields. 
Here there is a botanic garden agreeably 
situated on the banks of the river Elbe, but, 
from the bad weather and the lateness of the 
season, I was prevented from making a care- 
ful inspection of it. The predilection of 
the sovereign for the study of botany, and 
the great and varied acquirements of Prof. 
Reichenbach, gives to this capital a very 
marked distinction in the study of this branch 
of natural history. 
Here I was fortunate enough to be able to 
assist at one of the principal horticultural 
exhibitions, consisting chiefly of autumn fruits 
and dahlias, and to which the public were 
admitted on payment of a trifling sum. In 
the centre of the room in which it was held 
was a group of palms, surrounded by an ele- 
gant circle of numerous plants of Justicia 
carnea, and Bignonia diver sifolia. Beautiful 
green moss concealed the pots and vases, 
being laid round them in the form of a com- 
pact border. Thousands of dahlias were then 
arranged, even on the floor of the room and 
around the moss, in a series of concentric 
circles, alternating in rose and white ; then a 
graceful curve, enamelled with all the varied 
colours which this queen of Autumn presents, 
and at last a border of yellow sorts. This 
brilliant and novel assemblage, which might 
be called literally a sort of parterre, w^as ar- 
ranged in the shape of a perfect oval. At its 
two extremities were placed two pyramids 
constructed of wood, and presenting the richest 
mosaical display of plums, apples, and other 
fruits, fixed on the wood, and completely con- 
cealing it by the closeness in which they were 
placed to each other. Two large dishes placed 
on the summits of these pyramids contained 
the most select sorts of all the fruits of the 
season. Opposite to the entrance was placed 
a magnificent cornucopia, or "horn of plenty," 
covered with dahlias, and from which issued 
an enormous bouquet. These flowers hung 
over a trellis-work constructed with wires, 
and garnished with long vine-branches bearing 
fruit of various colours, and partly shaded by 
their foliage, while the lower extremities 
rested in the water underneath, and sustained 
the freshness of the parts above. At the op- 
posite side of this trellis-work were classed 
several vai'ieties of vegetables, and a curious 
collection of gourds. These specimens were 
arranged round a mass of exotic ferns and 
Lycopodiums, in the midst of which large 
pine-apples might be seen here and there. 
The fruit was very abundant, and consisted 
of the choice sorts of pears, apples, plums, 
grapes, 8sc. Nothing was wanting but the 
black elder-berries, of which a fine purple 
or violet beverage is made, and said to be 
much esteemed for its cleansing properties, 
while the berries of the white elder are sold 
in the markets for the purpose of making 
preserves ; they are also boiled and eaten 
with sugar. 
Every thing connected with this exhibition 
indicated much good taste and knowledge of 
certain rules of decoration which are met with 
in the other parts of Germany. 
LEIPZIG. 
Leipzig (or Leipzic) is the second town in 
importance in Saxony, and the principal place 
for literature in Europe. It is situated in the 
middle of a vast plain, where agriculture has 
been carried to some extent, having some 
points of resemblance to the neighbourhood 
of Lille, or the rural districts of Flanders. 
The portions of ground, or holdings, are sur- 
rounded by a stripe of grass, and the soil is- as 
productive as that of a garden. Favoured by 
soil and climate, the inhabitants of Leipsic are 
enabled to avail themselves of fine and exten- 
sive promenades. 'Le petit hois de Rosenthal' 
and ' Les jar dins de Hendel,'' are always 
thronged by a vast concourse of people ; 
and in Germany the gardens are seldom 
closed. There are neither gates nor hedges 
to obstruct the passage of any one, and it is 
never found that the slightest injury or tres- 
pass is committed. 
BERLIN. 
This is one of the finest towns in Europe, 
containing numerous loner and broad streets. 
