236 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[July 17. 
that he might have, in a London winter, a sick house¬ 
hold, with life or death to it depending upon a change 
to a milder air. 
We will not, however, combat such phantom opposi¬ 
tion. The Glass Pavilion will remain where it is; the 
surplus .£100,000 will be vested as a fund for its sup¬ 
port; the interior will be converted into a winter- 
garden ; there will be certain high admittance days, but 
a greater number when the admittance will be low, and, 
on all occasions, every adult will be permitted to take 
in two children gratuitously—because, if this were not 
done, half the benefits would be cut off from large 
families. The establishment will be self-supporting, 
and we cannot imagine a single opposition “ grunt, 
growl, or grumble” that can be entitled to the slightest 
attention. 
We might leave the Glass Pavilion’s claim to per¬ 
manency without any other support than it derives from 
its sanatory uses, but there are other benefits derivable 
from it that establish its claim still more immoveably. 
No other structure in the world is capable of enclosing 
such garden plants, and illustrating such garden culture. 
Whilst its galleries and side compartments are lofty 
enough, and yet low enough, for all the examples of 
vegetation afforded by the temperate regions of the 
earth, its nave and transept are beyond the reach of the 
topmost spray of the loftiest giants of tropic forests; and 
we see there, with prophetic eye, the Banian and the 
Palms stretching their growth to their extremest mag¬ 
nitude without a check being required. 
There is no need for us to offer suggestions as to the 
details of the arrangement of such a garden, for we 
know that able heads and refined tastes are already at 
work upon the design; yet, if we were inclined, we have 
before us letters showing that the gardening mind of 
England is busy upon the theme, and, as an example, 
we give the following from a thoroughly practical man : 
“ Of course there are many men capable of undertaking 
and completing such a work with taste and judgment; still, 
as you have given a general invitation, I hope gardeners will 
make known their ideas upon the subject, and, perhaps, 
from the mass, some useful hints may be gleaned. I should 
say that, to harmonise with the geometrical proportions of 
the building, it must be laid out geometrically ; if the land¬ 
scape or picturesque be adopted, it will interfere with the 
harmony that ought to exist between the two, i.e., the build¬ 
ing and the garden. I have other reasons for suggesting 
the geometrical, in an economical point of view. In order to 
make the thing answer the purpose, it must be warmed, not 
heated. Now I have an idea that statuary, placed in the 
open spaces where the walks intersect each other, as they 
do at regular intervals in a geometrical design, would be an 
additional ornament, and at the same time might be placed 
on hollow pedestals of open work, within which might be. 
concealed coils of piping. The edgings to the clumps, or 
beds, I would form of piping, rendered ornamental by being 
cast fluted instead of plain. No fear of their scorching the 
foliage of the plants need be entertained, as there would 
never be occasion to heat them to that degree, but merely 
| sufficient to keep out frost, and rendering the air sufficiently 
' mild for groves of Oranges, groves of Camellias, Magnolias, 
j Rhododenrons, Myrtles, &c., <fcc., almost without end. As 
to the boiler-house for heating these pipes, I should think 
I the present engine-houses might answer. Again, if foun- 
, tains and reservoirs are judiciously introduced, what a splen¬ 
did effect they will have from the various avenues which a 
geometrical plan will furnish, especially if raised upon a 
series of platforms or terraces from which a flew of the 
whole garden might be obtained; and the reservoirs, if 
capacious, would answer as aquariums on a magnificent scale , 
as well as furnish the means of irrigating the clumps, i 
sprinkling the paths, <fcc., for which purpose small pipes 
should be laid beneath the surface. Mr. Beaton’s concrete 
walks would be the most likely to bear the enormous traffic 
they would be subject to; and grass, I think, would only be 
admissible upon the fountain terraces.” 
Before concluding, we must express our most sincere 
hope never to see any horse or equipage within the 
structure; for the noise unavoidably their attendants, 
not only would be destructive of all quiet enjoyment, so 
desirable to be secured, hut the dust occasioned would 
be fatally injurious to the plants. We would rather j 
have a space left vacant for flower shows and winter ? 
cricketing! 
GARDENING GOSSIP. 
National Floiucultural Society. — June 26tli, J. 
Fairbairn, Esq., in the chair. Eight new members were 
elected, and two more nominated to be elected at the 
next election. There was a good attendance, and a 
great number of seedlings exhibited. 
Of first class certificates, one was awarded to Mr. Foster, 
of Clewer Manor, near Windsor, for his Pelargonium, 
Optima. Upper petals dark, edged with fiery crimson; 
lower petal dark rose, slightly blotched with a still darker 
colour; a first-rate variety, with trusses large and habit 
good. Another first-class certificate was awarded to Mr. 
Charles Turner, of Slough, for a stand of his seedling Pink, 
named Optima. The flowers are of the largest size; petals 
well-rounded, and smooth at the edges, laying broad and 
even; the white very clear. The fault we find with it is, 
that the dark colour of the edges and centre is rather muddy. 
The centre is well filled up, and the general form is good. 
Certificates were awarded to Mr. Foster for Pelargoniums, 
Ariadne, Enchantress, and Rubens. Ariadne has dark upper 
petals, light rose edge ; lower petals light rose, with a clear 
white eye. Enchantress has also dark upper petals, edged 
with rose; lower petals very light, streaked with pink, with 
a good white eye. Rubens is a good useful flower, much 
resembling Optima, but with smaller flowers; the form is, 
perhaps, a shade better, and the stain on the lower petals 
more dense. Of the four that obtained rewards, we judge 
Optima and Rubens to be the best by many degrees. 
In Fancy Pelargoniums, Mr. Ambrose had about a dozen 
varieties, only one of which the censors thought worthy of 
distinction. It was named Richard Cobden. It resembled 
Slatuiska considerably, with more light colour on the petals, 
scarcely distinct from many others, yet it is a desirable 
variety. Mr. Lochner, of Paddington, had a seedling named 
Lady Emma, very distinct in colour. It was of a beautiful 
rosy lilac; flower large, and produoed numerously. It re¬ 
ceived a recommendation. 
Mr. G. Rogers, of Uttoxeter, sent a splendid dark self 
Pansey, named Kossuth. This is an advance in the right 
way; size above medium; the form first-rate; substance 
good; eye clear yellow, surrounded with blue rays, upon 
the richest dark ground. It obtained a certificate. 
As a contrast to this rich, dark flower, Mr. Turner sent ! 
his pansey Swandoivn, a well-formed flower, of good sub- j 
stance, with a dark centre, and clear yellow eye; size me- | 
dium. This, also, deservedly had a certificate awarded. 
Mr. Hunt’s Pandora pansey was shown by him in quan¬ 
tity, and the censors remarked that it fully kept up its i 
excellent character. 
Mr. Smith, of Hornsey, sent a Verbena, Orlando, a good 
blue lilac, large trusses, and medium-sized flowers. This is 
an improvement upon Andre, and obtained a certificate. 
Mr. Turner’s Pelargonium. Attraction, received recom¬ 
mendation on account of the brightness of its colours. It 
will be useful as a market variety, or as an ornament to the 
greenhouse. Amongst those that did not obtain rewards of 
