THE CALDIERA OF FA YAL 
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fleecy clouds, a long line of flanking woods, my well-beloved 
garden with its flowers and promise of fruit, and I say this all 
makes for beauty. So is it, I think, for the Selborne Society ; 
each member takes his part, it may be small or great, but take 
them altogether their efforts should make for beauty, and make 
for a Selborne Society worthy of the man who taught us to love 
Selborne and hear the voices of the country. 
THE CALDIERA OF FAYAL. 
F the many sights well worth visiting in the Azores, not 
the least interesting is that of the Caldiera, or great 
extinct crater, of Fayal. Having been assured that 
the ascent, 3,000 feet, presented no difficulties, we left 
our steamer one fine morning in May, were rowed across the 
blue waters of the harbour, made our way along the pier of the 
town of Horta, crowded with the primitive ox-carts of the 
country, and passing along the main street of pink, buff and 
white washed houses, with their tiled roofs and quaintly-varied 
green woodwork, finally reached the inn, obtained our carnage, 
and set out on the expedition. Before beginning the ascent of 
the steep hill behind the town, a little shrine marks the limit of 
the lava flow two centuries ago. The road then leads upwards 
between walls sheltering gardens from the high winds, where 
here and there a spray of tiny pink roses, a tangle of honey- 
suckle or Bignonia, a tall palm or broad banana leaf peeps over, 
and suggests in a tantalising way the wealth of flowers and 
greenery concealed. The wonderful and extensive private 
gardens of the Azores contain treasures from all parts of the 
world : to see these only were well worth the journey from 
England. Here are avenues of palms and bananas, damp glades 
where New Zealand tree-ferns arch overhead, open sun-lit spaces 
of turf starred with the rainbow-coloured ixias and Sparaxis of 
the veldt. There the Datura hangs out its “ silver trumpets,” 
contrasting it may be with the lighter growth and feathery 
crimsons of the Australian bottle-brush, or where they bask on 
that rocky slope, you are fascinated by the strange growth of the 
dragon-trees, yuccas and cactuses. Among the orange groves 
rises the loquat with its broad, handsome leaves, almond-scented 
flowers and tiny golden medlars : farther on a strawberry-like 
fragrance may guide you to a great Magnolia covered with small 
pinkish tulips ; or wandering up some woodland glade you find 
your path carpeted with scarlet flowers, and looking up you see, 
high in sunshine, the blossoming branches of some tall forest tree 
from Brazil, a marvellous glow of colour. In short, Ponte 
Delgada, in St. Michael’s, is the gardener’s paradise. That of 
magnolias alone, 250 species are said to have been introduced, 
gives some idea of the wealth of these gardens. 1 
To return to our route. ... As the carriage climbs the 
There are not a quarter of that number of species known to science. — Ed. N. N. 
