ee He a 
pik vs 5% 
APRIL, 119 
have not that brilliancy of hue which gives so glorious an effect to those 
before mentioned. They are the little Field Gentian (G. campestris), 
which occurs sparingly on mountainous pastures in Western Britain, 
and which is, at first sight, with difficulty distinguished from the 
autumnal Gentian (G. amarella), though a difference, well-defined and 
constant, 1s presented in the form of the calyx, which, in the G. amarella, 
has its segments equal, while the G. campestris has the two outer 
segments, which are flat and upright, twice as broad as those between 
them. The G. amarella loves calcareous soils; and both these plants 
frequently exhibit flowers which are more or less double; a sort of 
deformity produced where the plants have been grazed down by sheep 
or other animals. 

SION HOUSE. 
THE gardens belonging to this fine Ducal residence are, I am happy 
to say, undergoing an entire change for the better. Progress and 
improvement are here at present the order of the day. ‘Those who 
knew Sion House 25 years ago, and had a knowledge of the more than 
princely fortune spent in iron, glass, and bricks, leaving out of the 
question labour, plants, &c.: and are acquainted with how prominently 
it stood above all other gardens, must have been ready to drop a tear 
to see the state to which it has lately been reduced. Now, however, a 
hopeful day has dawned on that still fine establishment. The right 
man has got into the right place, and he begins at the right end. ‘The 
Peach borders have been made anew, splendid trees planted, and great 
alterations are effected out-doors and in. On entering the early 
Vinery, a low lean-to, I found as fine a crop of Grapes as could possibly 
be desired, in 8-sized pots, on a raised stage, in a very forward state. 
The next object of interest was the Fig-house, in which was a most 
remarkable crop, on trees tramed up the back wall, and turned down 
from the top, filling every possible inch of space with fruit. The 
Peach-house also looked promising, but the trees are very old. The 
Strawberry houses were also satisfactory. Tropical fruit trees, for which 
Sion is remarkable, are healthy; but I could discover no fruit worth 
speaking of, except on Bananas, which bear freely; and during the 
many years the Mangosteen has heen in cultivation, it has only borne 
fruit once. 
Camellias, of which there are some fine trees, look clean and healthy, 
and the same may be said of greenhouse plants generally, but the fine 
old Palms are in a sad condition. Generally speaking, however, the 
aspect of the place is promising, and I feel confident that in a year 
or two Sion will present a condition superior to what it has hitherto 
done for years. 
J. K. 
