60 THE FLORIST. 



ELVASTON CASTLE. 



Most of our readers know that this is the seat of the Earl of Har- 

 rington, and that it is one of the most noted places in the kingdom. 

 Its Pinetum, of world-wide notoriety, will shortly be accessible to 

 the pubhc, by means of tickets and the payment of a small sum of 

 money, which, we understand, is to be devoted to charitable purposes. 

 This will be welcome news ; for in the late earl's time Elvaston was 

 a sealed book. We have recently had an opportunity of going over 

 the grounds, and inspecting the specimens they contain, whose beauty 

 individually, and great numbers, are perfectly astonishing. Choice 

 varieties of hardy Coniferae, such as we see but a few isolated speci- 

 mens of in most places, are to be met with here by the hundred, and, 

 in some instances, by the thousand. One hundred acres is the ex- 

 tent of this magnificent " garden of evergreens," in variety embracing 

 all that is choice and hardy from all parts of the world. It is said 

 that there are 1 1 miles of evergreen hedjjes, which bound the various 

 terraces, avenues, and gardens. It wall be seen, therefore, that it 

 would take more space than we can spare to enumerate even the 

 most conspicuous of the trees that the place contains. 



Mr. Barron, the inteUigent gardener, informed us that it is a 

 popular error to imagine that most varieties of Coniferse will not 

 succeed unless they have been seedling plants : here they are grow- 

 ing all alike luxuriantly from layers, cuttings, and grafts ; and ex- 

 cept a person was told, no one could distinguish them from those 

 raised from seed. It is also an error to suppose, as some do, that 

 because a plant is hardy, it may be placed in any hole or corner, 

 without due preparation for the roots, &c. If it is even a hardy 

 tree, to make it thrive, a proper attention to these points is essential 

 to success. As much care and attention is paid here to the prepa- 

 ration of good soil for out-door planting, as many observe for their 

 Pelargoniums or Carnations. 



An instance occurred in our presence of the ill effects of keeping 

 this tribe of plants in pots. A good- sized specimen was lying on 

 the grass, that had been planted some years ; but instead of getting 

 a firmer hold of the ground, it annually raised itself out of it, until 

 a brisk wind laid it prostrate on the turf: a little root on one side 

 was all it had to support itself by. But this is now a conceded 

 point. Transplant often, so long as they are in the nursery ; but 

 the shorter time they are in pots the better. 



As a visit to this original and novel garden is necessary in order 

 to form any conception of its beauty and extent, we may mention 

 that Elvaston is about four miles from Derby, on the high road to 

 London. It is therefore easy of access ; and we would advise all 

 who have opportunity, to see it, and judge for themselves, which will 

 yield far more gratification than any description, however elaborate, 

 that we can give. 



