with all the proportion and effect of which the space was capable, and approached by a stately and well-contrived staircase a disposition which seems peculiarly appropriate to situations like the Grange, where the advantage of elevation commands an extensive view over a fine country, well wooded, and with great variety of landscape. The Grange has always been a favourite spot in the annals of taste, and contained, at one time, a very fine and curious collection of paintings.

A few years ago, Mr. Drummond, in whose possession it then was, conceived the idea of converting the exterior into the aspect of a Grecian temple, (fig. 11.) which was ac

complished with great skill by Mr. Wilkins, as far as that object was concerned. The basement was formed into a magnificent pedestal for the portico, and the attic story, and its roof, were suppressed and concealed behind a massive intablature. It is a question, (which however is not the subject at present,) how far those cumbrous proportions, and that Doric severity, which according to Vitruvius were reserved to honor the major deities, are applicable to the purposes of villa architecture.

Be that as it may, situated on a gentle declivity, and sloping towards a fine piece of living water, with terraces surrounding the east and west fronts, embosomed in wood which covers the surrounding heights, and approached by magnificent avenues, it has the effect in the landscape, of those ideal scenes, which indulged only in the painter's imagination are hardly expected to be realized in nature. Those ponderous proportions which encumber the spectator on a near approach, like the tragic mask, communicate in the distant view all the characteristic traits that belong to that severe architecture, and give all its expression.

The present taste of the exterior is not more in accordance with the original architecture than with its real convenience,

which has suffered considerably in the adaptation of the templar style, and by heightening the ground floor in compliance with the modern habits, without acquiring those noble proportions of which this operation has totally deprived the upper floor, and which the great designer knew so well how to give. In consequence of these inconveniences, the present proprietor has found it necessary to make some extensive additions, which have been made from the designs of C. R. Cockerell, Esq. Jun. a distinguished student of the Grecian style of art.

These additions consist of a dining-room to the northeast, and a range of most agreeable living apartments to the south-west, terminated by a conservatory 70 by 46 and 21 feet high. Into this spacious area of perpetual spring, are directed the windows of those apartments dedicated to the ladies.

The ornamental scenery, immediately surrounding the garden, fronting the house, partakes of the symmetry of its architecture; it is not entirely finished, but will be heightened with all the care and taste for which the liberal possessor is so distinguished.

The entrance front is approached by an avenue, seemingly coeval with the original building; it enters a court (fig 12. a)

inclosed by a dwarf wall, and the door of the house is under a porch of isolated square pilasters, in imitation of the Choragic monument of Thrasybulus at Athens. The suite of rooms leads from the hall and staircase (b) to the dining-room (c); thence to the ladies' apartments (d) and conservatory (e). Part of the conservatory is a promenade under an opaque roof (f), approached by a deep portico (g), the floor of which is on the same level with the upper terrace (h). From this terrace, different flights of steps descend to one on a lower level (i) connected with the site of a flower garden; which, as before observed, is not yet completed.

Description of the Mode of preparing the Soil, Planting &c. with a List of the Plants in the Conservatory at the Grange. By Mr. Mc. ARTHUR.

Dear Sir;

AGREEABLY to your request, I send you some account of the Conservatory at this place, as far as regards the horticultural arrangements; accompanied with a section, in order to illustrate what observations I have to make; and that they may be made in as few words as possible.

The house (fig. 12. e), except the vestibule (f), which forms an interior portico, is laid out longitudinally into two beds, each of which is 15 feet 6 inches wide. The centre walk is 6 feet 6 inches wide; those at back and front being 4 feet 9 inches.

confined a stratum of air, to prevent the escape of heat. The bottom of the beds (m) are of a concave form, that the drainage may go to the centre; under each bed there are three dry wells, filled with large rough flints, laid as hollow as possible: as the wells are sunk in the chalk, any drain from them was unnecessary. The hollow (n) along the middle was also laid with flints, and the whole bottom covered with a layer of brick-bats &c. about 18 inches deep; on this was laid a thin layer of coarse shingly gravel, still keeping the concave form. The bottom being thus finished, the depth left for soil is, in the back bed, along the centre, 4 feet 6 inches; and at the sides 3 feet 6 inches; thus giving the greater depth for the large plants in the centre. The front bed, being intended for plants generally of a more humble growth, is 3 feet 6 inches deep along the middle, and at the sides 3 feet. These were filled up in the following manner: first with a layer of thick rough turf, laid loosely and hollow by doubling them up, always keeping the grass side inmost; over this was thrown some clean water gravel, just enough to fill the hollow left amongst the turf; the layer was about one foot in thickness: the turf had been some time cut and exposed to the sun and air, &c. The next layer, about the same depth, was surface loam with the turf chopped up a little, and mixed with the most rooty and heathy part of a quantity of bog or heath soil, amongst which was thrown some sandy water gravel. While this was doing, care was taken to prevent any one from treading upon what was already laid. Thus far both beds were treated alike; and excepting in the front one, both layers were only about 18 inches in thickness.

The following four soils were previously prepared; viz. light dark loam; yellow mellow loam of a stronger quality; sandy bog, all cut with the turf laid in ridges, and frequently turned until perfectly sweet and mellow; and, the same sort of bog soil, only cut more recently, so that the turf was not rotted down like the others. For the back bed, the above was mixed in nearly equal quantities, to which was added some sandy gravel; this mixture was laid about 2 feet thick and then trod evenly over, and near the top the chopped turf was omitted and sand substituted in place of gravel. For the front bed equal quantities of bog and loam were used, adding the chopped turf and small gravel until within a foot of the surface. The turf was then omitted, and sand used in place of gravel, excepting in two places intended for clumps of camellias; and there two parts of loam and one of bog were used quite up to the surface. Allowance was made for the ground settling, and when planted, loam, sand, bog, turf, gravel, or

pot sherds, was used under or about individual plants, as was thought necessary or agreeable to their different natures.

Along the back wall there is a border eighteen inches wide, drained and filled with soil in a similar manner to the beds. In this border is planted the geraniums and climbing plants which cover the back wall of the house, which is trellised with wire. At each pilaster, along the front and ends, are small beds of mould, in which are planted the climbers that run up the iron columns which face the pilasters.

When finished, the soil in the middle of the beds was from nine to twelve inches higher than the level of the walks, and rounded down to them. Along the walks, which are of Portland stone, is a curb of the same, two inches high by one and a half inch, rounded off at the top; this prevents the soil getting upon the walks when watering, and makes a good finish. The plants are all planted out in the beds, and grow luxuriantly, with scarcely an exception, although consisting of a collection of our best green-house plants, and some generally thought too tender for the conservatory.

The following are some of the principal and most conspicuous sorts:

Acacia alata,

dealbata,

longissima,

pubescens,

pulchella, speciosa, venusta, and several others, Acrostichum alcicorne, Andersonia sprengelioid. Aralia sp. Nepal, Araucaria Braziliensis, two varieties,

Ardisia crenulata,

Azalea indica,

fl. pl. albo,

Correa speciosum,

purpureo,

Crowea saligna,

Banksia speciosa,

Cussonia thyrsiflora,

coccinea,

dentata,

and eight other species,

æmula,

Dryandra longifolia,

australis,

fuscata,

integrifolia,

annonæfolia,

verticillata,

littoralis,

latifolia,

Elæocarpus cyaneus,
Elichrysum prolifer. &c.
Enkianthus quinqueflor.
Epacris grandiflora,

floribunda,
formosa, &c.

and all the species, Erythrina sp. nova, Nep. Eucalyptus pulverulent.

cordata,

fimbriata,

&c. &c.

Melastoma sanguinea,
Metrosideros speciosa,