402 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
and the throe flights of steps, opposite the transcepts. leading 
to the Italian garden helow. I may hero, however, observe, 
that the building itself is not a plain parallelogram, for on 
1 10 garden side, a wing, or return at each end, terminating 
wiLli square towers, extends so far as to enclose both 
terraces, in addition to the balustrade wall separating the 
second one from the ground below, as well as the one noted 
above, between first and second terraces. This second 
terrace is more especially deserving notice, for the feature 
being a gardening one, as well as architectural, it is proper 
to pause and look well over it; and, in the first place, one 
ot the principal features lias not yet been added—the water; 
for winch four large basins are provided, and the working 
material, in the way of jets, &c., are in the course of putting 
m ’ ^ 1CS0 basins forming tho centre of each grass plot to 
which the ground is divided by the three entrances to the i 
building, besides which there will be another basin larger 
still than any of them, and furnished with innumerable 
lets, &o., forming the centre to which the middle walk leads; 
but tins being on a lower level need not be mentioned here, 
Sulqco it, therefore, to say, that the three walks alluded to 
divide tho ground into four plots of about equal dimensions, 
and not far from square; the Italian or Geometric garden, 
broad walks running all around the whole, as well as the 
three thoroughfares to tho building, and all at right angles 
to each other, the portion next the wing part of the building 
being a sloping bank of turf, the same as that wliicb joins 
tbe main building, with the difference, however, that a 
running figure in ilovver beds is continued along it, which, 
in contrast with tho other features, looks remarkably well. 
hatover may be the merits of the various Italian gardens, 
which form such conspicuous appendages to the various 
seat houses to which they are attached, there are few at 
which the eye is not more or less offended at the distortion 
to which some of its parts are subjected; trees cut into 
forms so much at variance with their natural shape, and 
flower-beds assuming so many acute points, aud occasionally 
an incongruity in the selection of plants by which they are 
tilled, gives to many such gardens a singular, rather than an 
agreoable, appearance. Now, to obviate this, some have run 
into an opposite extreme, by attempting to form what they 
call a garden on the “natural system,” in a situation exactly 
adapted for the “ Italian, or Geometric,” without thinking 
that tho first-named could be so re-formed as to suit the 
respective wants of each place. At the Crystal Palace, this 
is very well accomplished; for without breaking up that 
regularity which constitutes the class of gardening to which 
it belongs, tho large space of undisturbed turf, with trees 
that will doubtless be allowed to grow as they like, the 
whole forms a very correct design pleasing to look upon, and 
devoid of those whimsicalities which, in other places, are so 
offending. The flower-beds in this garden are uniform 
throughout, and consist of only two shapes, linked together 
by a narrow strip or band; in other words, a series of round 
beds, alternately with those of round-cornered parallelogram 
shape, and the two united by a narrow strip of horde/, form 
a sort of running chain all around the margin of each of 
the above four grass plots, the centre containing the fountain 
basin as above; but being large, a considerable space of 
unbroken turt is seen. The beds seemed to he about eight 
feet wide, the long beds being exactly the same width as the 
round ones are in diameter, and on a line with each other, 
about four foet of marginal turf separate them from the 
water. Trees, such as Auracarias, Deodars, &c., form tho 
corner objects, in addition to four pieces of sculpture, hut 
the whole by no means crowded. These constitute tho 
whole of this garden, unless it bo mentioned that tho vases, 
at stated intervals along the balustrade wall, be included 
likewise, as they were well furnished with plants. 
And now to the planting of thoso beds which, forming a 
goodly number, gave an opportunity to introduce a great 
number of plants or varieties; hut this has not been the 
case, for the same view by which tho garden itself has been 
simplified in structure, is carried out in the planting; and 
the flower-garden decorator, who thinks that nothing can be 
good, unless it consists of an endless variety, will be highly 
offended at finding that more Ilian two-thirds of tho plants 
used here consist of only two kinds. Yellow Calceolarias 
and Scarlet Geraniums (I think Tom Thumb), the inter¬ 
mediate beds being of Verbenas, Petunias, &c„ but tho 
August 22. 
whole planted out on the massing system, a bed of each 
colour, and all kept to a uniform height; this latter duty 
does the young men credit who have the manipulation, for 
I observed some plants in other parts of the garden, which, 
in a general way, form tho tall beds of a series, were curbed 
and pegged down in such a way as to keep on the same line 
as the A erbenas, and other low growing plants; even the 
Agcratum Mexicanum, Heliotrope, and other plants, were 
made to bow to the equalizing laws which govern things 
at tins garden. 1 he stiff-necked Salvia patens had even to 
succumb to this all-levellmg spirit, and its spikes of bloom 
or rather its shoots were prostrated in such a manner as 
the bloom should appear no higher than that of a Nni 
embcrgia adjoining it; and I may observe, this operation 
wa.s well performed, unless, perhaps, as some may think, 
this artificial treatment was carried too far; for with the 
exception of the Tom Thumbs, I think every thin-' else 
was operated upon; even tho common busily yellow Calceo¬ 
larias were tied up, much, I thought, to their disfigurement; 
tor I do not like to see a bed have the appearance of a 
number of bouquets stuck over it, each tied up as if for a 
special purpose; however, on the whole, the beds looked 
well, and tbe showery weather in June had been duly relished 
by thorn, in addition, no doubt, to the freshness of the 
material in which they were planted ; but on a subsequent 
visit, at the end of July, after some very hot and dry weather, 
I found that they were not altogether proof agaiuskit, any 
more than such things arc in other less favoured places. 
As will be known by all, much remains yet to be done in 
tins garden ; but J cannot refrain mentioning the generally 
good appearance that trees and shrubs had, many of which 
were of large size, and had been planted only one season. 
I may, perhaps, at another opportunity, refer to some other 
oi my notes ou oilier portions of the garden: but I might 
here say, that after the second terrace there is another, par¬ 
taking partly of the geometric, but gently blending with the 
desultory,” or natural, if it must bo called so. This 
garden, too, is composed of long strings of circular beds 
alternating with long ones, tho ends of which are curved, 
fine sweeps struck from the centre of each round bed, but 
they are not united as in the other case. Scarlet Geraniums 
and yellow Calceolarias prevail hero also ; mid even some of 
the slirub-beds have an edging of the latter plant around j 
them. In fact, so profusely is this gay bedder used at the 
Crystal Palace, that it may safely be affirmed, that quite one- I 
halt of tbe plants used are of this kind. Furthermore it I 
may be as well also fo know, that the old variety is in the I 
greatest abundance too. 
As the Official Guide-book contains some very interesting 
c etails of the other features, I need add no more here, un- I 
less I hazard a conjecture, whether even the Company be ' 
able to supply the requisite quantity of' water tho various 
water-works will require to work them; for my part, I confess 
being puzzled as to where it is to come from,—for tiie mag- 
mtude of the works would seem to want as much water as 
is furnished by the Thames at HamptoD-court; and where i 
that is to be had on a dry hill-side, is more than f can com¬ 
prehend, especially in these days, when speculating water 
companies lay hold on all supplies that are available. How- 1 
ever, it may be unfair to judge too harshly on this part of 
the undertaking; I only here give utterance to a doubt; and 
on tho merits of the other departments which arc in a more 
advanced state I will, perhaps, say more hereafter; but 
at the same time, would advise the young and aspiring 
gardener to pay the place a visit, and feel how ho will be 
gratified with it. ’ S. N V 
THE LE MAUN PEA.—AMERICAN BLIGHT. 
The Le Maun Pea was introduced by me into this oountry 
iom North America, liliode Island State Town, Newport. 
It was there grown as a dwarf Pea, by Messrs. Hazard and 
Caswell, from whom I obtained the seed, which is* perfectly 
smooth. The pods (with me) are smooth also, and I do 
not perceive any great difference between thorn and the 
seed-pods of “ I lie British Queen," in point of smoothness 
oi lougliness. llio peas arc uniformly of a very large size 
when full-grown, and for eating very sweet. Ou seeding, 1 
will send you some pods. 
I have but a small garden of my own, with an orchard of . 
