VISITS TO REMARKABLE PLACES. 
97 
ing of lights. The advantage of this system lies in the inter¬ 
mediate space between the light lessening the action of the 
outer air on the temperature of the house, but it is not found 
of sufficient importance to warrant the additional expense, and 
is besides unnecessary where a good heating apparatus is at com¬ 
mand. This erection is filled chiefly with Indian orchidese; 
several specimens of Stanhopeas attract attention; but those most 
deserving remark are the Aerides and Vandas, being fine plants, 
and several of them very rare. The temperature of this house 
ranged from 75° to 80°. The remaining portion of glass 
appeared to be in excellent condition. 
Contiguous to this part of the grounds is the flower-garden, 
on entering which our attention was immediately arrested by 
an excellent piece of rockwork, composed of stones quarried in 
the neighbourhood, of several tons weight each, the bases and 
recesses among which are studded over with rhododendrons, 
and other American plants. Connected with this by a narrow 
path edged with ferns, and leading by the margin of a pretty 
piece of water, is another well-managed piece, representing a 
sort of sarcophagus or cave, containing stone coffins from 
Pompeii and other Roman antiquities. This place is constructed, 
like the other, of ponderous masses of rough stone; and when 
each is viewed in connection with the other has a very im¬ 
posing appearance. The surrounding neat and well-dressed 
flower-garden affords a contrast perhaps rather too abrupt, but 
the intervening piece of water, by harmonising with both, tends 
to render the transition more reconcilable. Passing hence, our 
course lay by the rosery, containing some valuable kinds, but 
our space will not allow the enumeration : on to the pinetum ; 
here we found very nice young plants of Araucaria, Cedrus, &c., 
growing luxuriantly in a delightful spot. From this place we 
directed our steps, by a walk of about a mile in length, along the 
edge of an artificial lake—a sheet of water covering, we under¬ 
stood, above an hundred acres—towards the tower, a building 
apparently intended for a look-out, but unfortunately placed in 
a comparative hollow: returning by a neat architectural bridge 
over the lake, we finished a very pleasant day. 
The following is a list of the orchidaceous plants blooming at 
the time of our visit: — 
Leptotes bicolor. 
Oncidium pubes. 
Oncidium bians, 
Cebolleti, 
VOL. V. NO. V. 
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