^r;Vg\,^ P/:^;^^^^ 
VISITS TO KEMAKKABLE GARDENS. 
^ 
not be consistent with the habits of the plants, or to the climate they come from — those from the 
Eastern hemisphere, as is well known, requiring generally both more heat and more moistm'e. Now, 
this will, and may be said with truth; and, at first sight, the objection appears insuperable. But for 
my own part, I should not fear of being able so to construct a house, as that both heat and moistm-e 
should be much greater at one end than the other ; and that all intermediate climes should be fairly 
represented between, as far as the wants of the Orchids requu-ed it. 
Now, in the block or basket house, provision might be made for a much greater amount of atmo- 
spheric moisture than in the pot-house ; and, indeed, thei-e would be no absolute necessity for ha-soiig 
the house exclusively arranged for blocks and baskets; several modifications of the ordinary lean-to 
or span roof might be taken into consideration, which would in a proper degree combine, in joart, shelf 
culture for special matters. 
Before I conclude, I may, perhaps, be permitted to offer a few remarks of a miscellaneous chai-acter. 
Many of the Orchids are known to be " gross feeders," as gardeners term some plants. Now, as 
procru'ing fibrous peat, or moor soil, is, to many persons, very expensive, it may be well to know, that 
some of them will grow and thrive in ordinary tm-f, fi-om a sandy upland pasture — what is called, 
indeed, " light sandy loam." I obtained some last year at this time, from the park, which has lain 
at rest for a centui-y or more. After cutting it in squai'es of about an inch cube, it was highly dried — 
almost singed — on the top of a boiler. Some of the stronger Lj^castes, and a few other things, were 
potted in this soil, with which occasionally a lump of peat was mixed. In re-potting lafely, I foimd 
most of them adhering, with abundance of fibres, to the loamy tm-f — indeed, they seemed to have 
taken to it in preference to the peat. 
VISITS TO KEMARKABLE GARDENS. 
PEESTON" HALL, the Residence of E. L. BETTS, Esq. 
fHIS fine estate, for many years the property of the Preston family, is situated near Aylesford, and 
about thi'ee miles fi'om the town of Maidstone. It has lately passed by pm'chase into the hands of the 
gentleman whose name heads this article — one of the most fortunate of our great railway sjjeculators — 
a man of almost boundless wealth, refined taste, and most enlightened and liberal views. Preston Hall 
is one of those ancient places which coimtry people, more especially of the working classes, look upon 
with almost superstitious awe, the ncighbom'hood being celebrated, more especially the ■sillage of Ayles- 
ford, for its stories of the days of chivalry. 
" Old legends of the monkish page, 
Traditions of the saint and sage, 
Tales that have the rime of age, 
And chi'onicles of old." 
Some years back, in making some alterations in the park, within a short distance of the present 
mansion, the foundation of an old house was found in a state of complete preservation, and in a brick 
oven several loaves of bread were discovered, quite perfect to appearance, but which soon crumbled 
into powder when exposed to the air. Coins have been found in various parts of the estate, and we 
were informed there are many old inhabitants of the neighbourhood who would willingly incm- the 
expense of pulling the present mansion down (which must shortty give way to a new one in coni'se of 
erection), if they might only be allowed the treasm-e which they suppose will be found concealed about 
the building. However great the treasui'e thus secreted may be, we apprehend that the present pro- 
prietor is taking more effectual means to discover the value of the property than in hmiting after 
traditionary lore, and we suspect, some of his " diggings" will be found as permanently impregnated 
with gold's worth, as some of the celebrated washing-places of the Sacramento itself. The river Med- 
way passes thi-ongh the estate, upon the banks of which two wharfs have been erected, one for the 
landing of all necessary materials for the erection of the new mansion, offices, cottages, &c., and 
other, communicating by a branch railway with a pottery recently established upon one of the finest 
veins of clay in the country, and at an expense of several thousand pounds. In another part of the 
estate, stone is being quarried for the pm'pose of building the new mansion, and other necessary erec- 
tions, such as park walls, &c., and from the same som-ce lime is being made, by converting the waste 
stone into that useful article. AVe mention these things in passing to show what capital, properly 
du'ected, is capable of effecting, giving employment to hundreds of men, where dozens were not 
