212 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Junh 22. 
These convey the water from the main pipe to certain 
required distances, and then bring it back to the return 
main pipe, through which it flows into the boiler. The 
second main pipe conveys the water for heating the 
front of the building next'to the Garden; and connected 
with this, as with the other main pipe, are smaller pipes 
through which the water ramifies, and then, in like 
manner, is returned to the boiler. Thus, then, by the 
mere propulsion of heat, a vast quantity of water is kept 
in constant motion throughout the Palace, continually 
flowing and returning, and giving out warmth that 
! makes its way upwards, and disseminates a genial 
atmosphere in every part. 
| “ To ensure pure circulation throughout the winter, 
! ventilators have been introduced direot from the main 
| building into each furnace, where the air, so brought, 
i being consumed by the fire, the atmosphere in the 
j Palace is continually renewed. 
i “ The south end of the Palace and the south transept 
I contain a selection of plants, consisting chiefly of Rho¬ 
dodendrons, Camellias, Azaleas, and other choice con¬ 
servatory plants, most carefully selected; in the south 
transept, especially, are arranged the finest specimens of 
these plants that can be seen. Opposite the Pompeian 
Court aro placed two fine specimens of aloes, and, 
conspicuous opposite the Birmingham Industrial Court, 
are two Norfolk Island pines. Opposite the Stationery 
Court are two specimens of Morton Bay pine, as well as 
several specimens of Telopea speciosissima from Australia. 
Under the first transept may be noticed two remarkably 
fine Norfolk Island pines, presented by his Grace the 
Duke of Devonshire. 
“ The garden facing the Egyptian Court is principally 
filled with palms; on either side of its entrance are two 
curious plauts (resembling blocks of wood) called “ Ele- 
! phant’s Foot;” they are the largest specimens ever 
j brought to Europe, and were imported from the Cape of 
Good Hope by the Crystal Palace Company. This 
plant is one of the longest lived of any vegetable 
product, the two specimens before the visitor being 
i supposed to be three thousand years old. Before this 
j Court will be noticed also two fine India-rubber plants 
; —a plant that has latterly acquired considerable interest 
and value, on account of the variety and importance of 
the uses to which its sap is applied. Here will also be 
noticed an old conservatory favourite, though not often 
met with, the Sparmannia Africana. Amongst the palms 
i will be remarked many of very elegant and beautiful 
foliage, including the Seaforthia elegans, one of the most 
handsome plants of New Holland, and the Ghamcedorea 
elegants of Mexico. On the left of the entrance to the 
Egyptian Court will be seen perhaps the largest specimen 
in Europe of the Mhipidodendronplieatile from the Cape 
of Good Hope. Opposite the central entrance to the 
Greek Court, and in front of the beds, are two variegated 
American aloes. The beds are filled with a variety of con¬ 
servatory plants, and have a border of olive plants. In 
front of the Roman Court will be observed, first, on either 
i side of the second opening, two large Norfolk Island 
I pines, presented by Her Most Gracious Majesty and 
His Royal Highness Prince Albert. The beds, like 
those before the Greek Court, are principally filled with 
Camellias, Rhododendrons, and Orange-trees, and are 
also bordered by several small specimens of the olive 
plant. Between the two foremost statues, at the 
angles of the pathway leading to the second opening, 
are placed two specimens of the very rare and small 
plant, which produces the Winter bark of commerce, 
and which is called Dnjmus Winterii. The garden in 
front of the Alhambra is devoted to fine specimens of 
the pomegranates. Having passed the Alhambra, we 
find the garden of the whole of this end of the building 
devoted to tropical plants, including a most magnificent 
collection of different varieties of palms. 
Between the sphinxes are placed sixteen Egyptian 
date-palms ( Pliamix dactylifera), recently imported from 
Egypt, and which owe their present unflourishing 
appearance to the delay that took place in their trans¬ 
mission, on account of the steamer in which they 
were conveyed having been engaged, on her home¬ 
ward passage, for the transport of troops. Amongst the 
different varieties of palms, the following may be noted, ! 
either for their large growth or beautiful foliage: an 
immense specimen of the Snbal palmetto, from Florida, 
and a fine Sabal Blachburniana; also several fine speci¬ 
mens of the cocos, amongst which is the Cocos phmiosa, 
reaching the height of thirty-five feet; numerous speci¬ 
mens of the wax palm ( Ceroxylon andricola), natives of 
Columbia, and the curious Calamus maximus, which, in 
the damp forests of Java, grows along the ground to an 
immense length, and forms with its sharp prickles an 
almost impenetrable underwood, are also here. The 
Sagueras saccharifera of India, noted for its saccha¬ 
rine properties, and the vegetable ivory palm (Phy- 
telephas macrocarpa), deserve attention. The specimen 
of Pandamus odoratissimus, from Tahiti, is also remark¬ 
able, on account of its sweet smell. 
“ Opposite the Byzantine Court, the garden is filled 
with different varieties of palms brought from South 
America, Australia, and the Isle of Bourbon. Before 
the Mediaeval Court may be noticed two Norfolk Island j 
pines, and close to the monuments at the entrance of I 
the English Mediaeval Court, are two funereal cypresses, 
brought from the Vale of Tombs, in North China. 
Close to the Norfolk Island pine, on the right, facing the 
Court, is a small specimen of the graceful and beautiful 
Moreton Bay pine. The garden in front of the Re¬ 
naissance Court is filled with conservatory plants, con¬ 
sisting of camellias, azaleas, &c. On either side of the 
entrance to the Italian Court are two very fine American 
aloes, the beds here being filled with orange trees, olives, 
and other greenhouse plauts. In the garden, in front 
of the Foreign Industrial Court, will be noticed two 
fine Norfolk Island pines.” 
For these particulars we are indebted to “ The Crystal 
Palace Guide,” and we will only add, at present, our 
testimony as to the healthful appearance of the plants. 
Those grouped and suspended in fancy baskets in the 
archways along each side of the nave are unexcep- 
tionably graceful, and we heartily hope that the difficulty 
of access to them will not induce neglect in their supply 
of water, and other cultural care. Any symptoms of 
fading would sadly mar the fairy beauty they now 
produce. 
For our drawing, we are indebted to one of the best of 
our contemporaries, The Home Companion, and the 
structure of the Crystal Palace, as it appears in that 
drawing, is thus noticed in the pages from which it is 
derived. 
“ The structure itself, in the modifications of form 
and site it has received at the hands of its new directors, 
is an emblem of the enlarged intellectual basis on which 
it stands. Crowning the ridge of a lofty and picturesque 
hill, running nearly north and south, its huge bulk 
glittering in the suusbine, or looming heavily against a 
cloudy sky, is visible for miles in every direction, and 
forms a strange and sudden feature in the undulating 
landscape. On the west, or London side, a strip of 
table land allows the passage of a splendid road, one 
hundred feet wide, along its entire length. On the 
east, or country side, the terraced park slopes gently 
down towards the London and Brighton Railway, and 
melts away almost imperceptibly into the wooded plain 
of Kent. Views of great beauty and extent open on 
