Felr-.iary 23, 188?. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AiSu COTTAGE GARDENER 
153 
spot to linger in, but a keen north-east wind whistlincr round our 
ears does not tempt to the indulgence of imagination in February. 
So hurrying on we note on the way the grand old Cedar of Lebanon, 
which was so successfully rescued a few years ago. This magnifi¬ 
cent tree, which mush be counted amongst the finest proportioned 
specimens in England, was disturbed in a storm and paitially over¬ 
turned, the roots being dr.agged up for a long distance and the 
branches on the opposite side touching the ground. By moans of 
various mechanical contrivances it was, however, restored to its 
former position, and the lower branches are now supported near 
the stem by stout iron columns resting on concrete, so that there is 
little fear of a similar accident again befalling it. The roots were 
carefully relaid, and the tree does not appiar in the least the 
worse for its partial collapse. On the bniks of the lake, which by 
the way is a well designed piece of water, are specimens of another 
remarkable tree, the deciduous Cypress, Taxodium distichum, 
some of which are nearly 100 feet high, or approaching closely to 
of its light graceful branches. When in leaf this is a beautiful 
tree, and it forms one of the numerous attractions to tree lovers. 
Liquidambars are occasionally seen in gardens, but rarely of good 
size, and it is surprising that such handsome trees as these are in 
autumn, when their leaves are unequalled in rich tints of crimson, 
gold, and green, that they are not more frequently planted: at Syon 
are some good specimens 30, 40, and 50 feet high. Hosts of other 
trees might be mentioned, but an historical Mulberry must not be 
passed, for it is reputed to be one of the oldest in England, having 
been planted at the time these gardens were occupied by the 
Monastery already referred to. In the shrubberies are numberless 
fine Hollies T2 to 20 feet high, Ilex opaca, the distinct Ilex dipyrena, 
and the Highclere Holly being capitally represented. Huge bushes 
of Box, Laurels, and scores of rare shrubs are also seen, together 
with several exceptionally fine examples of the Snowdrop Tree, 
Halesia tetraptera, which frequently bear a profusion of pure white 
bell-like flowers. Of one rare shrub, Stuartia virginica, there is a 
Fm. 20.-TAXODIUM DISTICHUM AT SYOX HOUSE. 
their full dimensions. Where it succeeds this is a graceful Conifer, 
the peculiar bright green foliage contrasting very n.arkedly with 
the darker tint of evergreen trees, and though it looks bare in 
winter it is useful for planting in damp situations where few other 
Conifers thrive, and has a most refreshing appearance in the spring 
and summer. One peculiarity in this tree is admirably shown by a 
large specimen at Syon—namely, the production of “ knees ” from 
the roots extending to GO feet from the stem. These protuberances, 
which exactly resemble the roots in structure, are mostly only a 
few inches above the soil, but in some cases they are said to rise 
2 feet above the surface, and have been employed as bee hives in 
the Southern States of North America. It is somewhat curious 
that from these “ knees ” tap roots descend straight into the soil, 
as if shoots were to be produced, though this does not occur. In 
the engraving (fig. 20), kindly lent by Alessrs. J. Veitch & Sons 
from their valuable “ Manual of the Coniferas,” the peculiar “ knee ” 
characteristic of the Syon Taxodium is accurately represented. 
A short distance from the conservatory is a fine example of the 
Cretan Maple, Acer creticum, about 40 feet high, with a wide spread 
fine bush that is generally regarded as rather tender, but which suc¬ 
ceeds well there. It is a North American plant included in the 
Tea family, and its large handsome white flowers are somewhat 
suggestive of a single Camellia. It was first introduced to this 
country in 1742, and in “Andrews’ Botanists’Eepository ” (t. 397), 
an excellent figure was given of the plant which had then just 
flowered. Another beautiful shrub, S. pentagyna, is similar in 
characters to S. virginica, both preferring moist situations. A 
handsome well-proportioned pair of the deciduous spring flowering 
Magnolia, M. conspicua, stand in the flower garden in front of the 
conservatory, one each side of a central walk, and every year these 
are covered with flowers, forming two extremely beautiful objects. 
THE OONSERVATORY. 
The conservatory is an imposing but rather heavy structure, 
and like the mansion is built of Bath stone. It is 380 feet Inig, of 
crescent form, with two wings and a central dome 60 feet high. In 
front is the flower garden of semicircular shape, with numerous 
simple beds and marginal rows of standard Roses. The wings and 
