104 
THE FLORIST. 
Deodars ever present. As we look from this new station, four canals, 
supplied by cascades—whose course is traversed by the pathway in which 
stand the basins with jets and the flights of steps whereby we reach the 
level of the side terraces, are discernible, for we are now above them, and 
look over ramps of earth supporting the paths that surround them and 
the stairways giving access from one grade to another. Each of these 
canals is about 180 feet long and 25 wide; they are four in number, 
two on each side, reaching from our present standing-point to the 
pathway at whose intersection with the centre walk we stood with the 
circular basins on either hand,—the south cross-walk of the principal 
garden. One hundred and eighty feet from the pedestal of the sculp¬ 
ture which it is proposed to place above the great central cascade, is the 
last flight of steps, which brings us to a level with the band platforms, 
and only just below the conservatory; we are now inclosed by the great 
colonnade, whose horns advance with a grand sweep 250 feet, spanning 
700 feet. From the lowest level of the steps just ascended goes to 
either side a long ramp of turf, encircling half the band-houses and 
platforms, so that large accommodation for auditors is provided. From 
the highest level the path runs in front of the conservatory, sweeps 
round the ramps last mentioned, and by a brief ascent brings us to the 
colonnade itself,—standing under or upon the roof of which we can see 
the whole domain, with its many levels, flights of steps, belts of trees, 
evergreens and dwarf shrubs, its embroidered beds, canals of running 
water and many-shaped basins, its jets, cascades, the multitudinous- 
hued flowers, large spaces of Grass and ramps in long lines from side 
to side, with their curving faces here and there as they stretch beneath 
us ; the rich diversity of greens from the plats and shrubs, statues, band 
houses, and dark Deodars, all inclosed with the diverse corridors to the 
east, south, and west. Beyond the south side will be the Exhibition 
building. With great judgment the employment of fountains has been 
restricted to two simple and lofty streams, which under shelter of the 
corridors and colonnades can play at all times and in all winds. Hence 
it will be seen that the error of the Crystal Palace decorators has been 
avoided. We have had occ^asion to speak of many flights of steps ; but 
it will be seen that these are in easy gradients, from the fact that the 
total ascent, thirty feet, is overcome by no less than seven shallow flights. 
Such, we hope, will be nearly the state of the gardens on the 4th of 
June ; but the long-continued wet and frost lead us to doubt if the 
gardens can be quite finished by that day.— Athenceum. 
CRASSANE D’HIVER (BRUNNEAU). 
This is a late French Pear, which is worthy of further trial. I find 
it to be a very handsome fruit, nearly round, yellow, slightly tinged 
with red, when ripe, and keeps till April and May. In 1855 my 
dwarf trees on Quince stocks bore abundantly, but the fruit did not 
ripen so kindly as heretofore. I am inclined to recommend this high- 
flavoured Pear to be planted against a south or south-east wall, and I 
have no doubt that it would ripen well and prove a valuable late Pear. 
T. R. 
