Those grounds, from their natural position, elevated as they are over three hundred feet above the Ottawa River, make a grand impression on all who have visited them. A finer view is seldom seen. Looking from them to the southwest, you have the Chaudrie Falls, Suspension and C. P. Railway bridges, and as far as the eye can reach the river wending its way upwards, dotted with wood-covered islands. On the background, in the distance, runs a chain of mountains covered to the top with various sorts of trees, evergreens, etc. On the opposite side of the river lies the city of Hull with its vast piles of sawed lumber. On the northwest, at the bottom of the slope, is the Rideau Canal, Major's Hill Park, and the lower portion of the city; in the distance, peeping from the woods, is the Governor's residence, with the river flowing downward. This river is the scene of much activity in Summer, from the vast quantities of lumber passing by raft and barge to the different markets. The grounds contain an area of about thirty acres, without its surrounding slopes. About thirty feet from the top of this slope, which is very steep, runs a walk called " the Lovers'," beautifully shaded by trees. At its center is a fountain of water, with seats where the weary may drink and rest.

This walk runs all round the back, which is formed somewhat like a D, the straight portion being enclosed by an ornamental walk and railing, in which is the entrance gates from a street of the city.

The grounds may be considered as two flats; on the upper stands the Parliament building and Library; on the lower two blocks of the Departmental Buildings, facing as it were, and forming three sides of a square, apart at the corners about two hundred feet, in the center of which is about six acres of grass. Down the center runs a walk fifty-five feet wide, with two others running from the upper part to the corners; they are fourteen feet wide.

On the upper part of this square stands a parapet wall, straight in the center, but sweeping around and falling at both sides, to the side building. Back of this again, sixty feet at the nearest point, runs two short walls which catch the eye looking from the front, where the front wall begins to fall at both sides, giving an elevated appearance to the building which stands above. Between those walls at each side is a carriage drive and sidewalk, rising to the upper flat with a piece of lawn on each side, in which are ten flower beds, five on each side.

The upper portion on the top of the slope has a cedar hedge (arbor-vitae, Ed.), inside of which runs a foot-walk. On this upper portion is the greatest decoration of flower beds, embracing thirty-six in number; with two large borders, requiring thirty-six thousand plants to fill them, which may be called of three sorts - motto, design in flower, and mass. The first is entirely made of low-growing plants, which I will try to describe. One is at the junction of two sweeping-walks, and forms somewhat of a triangle, in the center of which are the words "God Save our Queen," in Alternanthera amcena, carpeted with Sedum, surrounded by a border of Alternanthera aurea. In a sort of fancy scroll work, apart from this, is another of Pachyphytum aurem, filled between with Echeveria Californica. Next to the grass border is another, running in a line with this border, of Leucophytum Brownii, filled in with various plants, as the second border divides it into sections. Another is a circular bed, twelve feet in diameter; in the center is a circle of Alternanthera with four points running to the outer border, and the words "Be true." The center and points are carpeted with Sedums. Between those points is another device bordered with Silver Thyme, carpeted with Oxalis trifolioides; the outer circle is Echeveria secunda.

The third has also a circle in the center with the words "Be kind," having eight points. The circle and points are bordered with Golden Feverfew; center carpeted with Sedum; points with Oxalis trifolioides. Between these points are figures bordered by Alternanthera, carpeted with Sedum, with an outer border of Sempervivum. Much attention is given to bring out contrast by the color of the plants used.

My flower designs are made with flowering plants, which grow as near a uniform height as possible, always taking care that the tallest is in the center. One of the simplest that any one can make is one I had this year. The bed is twenty feet diameter, circular, with four points running out five feet long, and the same where they leave the circle. A Pandanus in the center, a circle of Centaurea gymnocarpa eight feet diameter; around this plant was filled rose colored Phlox Drummondii, then a band of Phlox outside the Centaurea, Fire Ball three feet, another of Snow Ball, then a line of Teilanthera; the outer a border of Cerastium tomentosum. Following around the points forming an edging those points were filled with Ageratum John Douglas. This is what may be called a ribbon bed; but 1 carry out many designs in flowers, having various ways to keep my lines distinct, which is a necessity for proper effect. My method of doing this I will describe at some other time. For massing I use such as Petunias, Zinnias, Portulaca, etc. All those beds are cut in the grass in Gothic style, corresponding with the order of the buildings. I always use some distinctive plant in color from the grass.

All beds have a border of some sort.

The grounds require a staff of fourteen active men to keep them in order. They are divided according to their different tasks, and soon become very expert. Some trim the beds, which job is done once a week, never allowed to get out of shape, but as it were training them. Others attend to the mowing of the grass. About fifteen acres of this is done by a horse mower, and a hand one to cut corners and slopes where the horse cannot go. Some, again, clip the edges, and sweep the walks; others the watering. Every one has his portion to attend to, and is expected to do it. These lawns are mowed all the summer - at least once a week; in fast growing times twice, and never allowed to show signs of burning for want of water. They are always as green as a spring day morning, even in the month of July. Some of our horticulturists who have visited them say that they are equal to the best of theirs. My method of treating these lawns I will give you afterwards. The task has been a most difficult one, owing to their high, unsheltered position, largely excavated from the rock, and the nature of the soil found on them, all mixed up with the debris from the buildings at their erection - sandstone cuttings and such like.

My facilities for propagation for my beds have been very limited, having only two greenhouses. One, forty by twenty, contains a specimen of most plants of a tropical nature, that I can find worthy of growing. The other is sixty-seven by eighteen, and contains all greenhouse plants that are to be found in catalogues, on this side of the ocean. This lack of glass, although very inconvenient, has had its good results, as it has driven me to try many plans, and I am now able to keep a large stock of plants in a very small space. In public places no one ever stops to enquire whether one has proper facilities to do the work properly or not, but would put him down as incapable if the work be not done right.

Besides this, I use twenty hot-bed lights for the raising of annuals, which are pricked out as soon as ready, into spaces furnished with bottom heat by manure, so that they can be covered up at night for fear of late frosts. From this I get much hardier plants than from under the glass, and it enables me to do much with this small quantity of hot-beds.

The grounds have been the admiration of every one during past seasons. To use the common expression of the many who have seen them - some of whom have traveled through Europe and seen much - it is the prettiest spot they ever put foot upon.