Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/132

 ture. Without that, every thing is, to a great extent, a matter of chance. With irrigation, we not only secure the utmost yield from a rich soil, but raise fair crops from almost pure sand."

My attention was frequently called, as we sped along, to spots of high historic interest. But to me the names were without interest, awoke no associations; even as to Alfred, if permitted to revisit the land he loved so well, and so well defended, Hastings, Runnymede, Marston Moor, would be but empty sounds.

On reaching the summit of the highest ground intervening between us and the city, we came in view of what I supposed, at first, to be an extensive lake, glittering in the rays of the morning sun.

"That is the roof of the Winter Garden," was the information I received. "We can spare the time for a brief inspection."

Those who have seen the so-called Crystal Palace at Sydenham may form some faint conception of the immense structure now before us. Imagine a surface of fully one hundred acres, under one roof of ualin. In general, the height of the roof was not more than thirty feet; it, in places, it rose to a height sufficient to enclose palms and other tropical trees of the loftiest species. These, however, were confined to a comparatively small area of the entire enclosure.

In some places extensive areas were laid down under permanent sward. Elsewhere were seen vineyards and orchards. The vines and fruit-trees in these were so trained as not to blossom till November, when the whole area was covered in and heated to a moderate tempera-