276 THE FLORIST. 



To Mr. George Tye are due the thanks of the Society for this very 

 successful meeting of the National Carnation and Picotee Society. 

 The exhibition for 1857 will be held at Manchester. 



HIGH-CLERE, 

 THE SEAT OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CARNARVON. 

 This princely demesne is situated near the Newbury and Andover 

 road, distant about six miles from Newbur3^ The mansion, an 

 elegant castellated building by Sir Charles Barry, stands on an eminence 

 in the centre of an extensive and beautiful park, of about 2000 acres, 

 the whole of which is undulated in the most pleasing manner ; in fact, 

 there are few parks in the kingdom which display a surface more 

 varied, or scenery more interesting. The pleasure-grounds are on a 

 most extensive scale, and, like the park, present a great diversity of 

 surface. The whole is laid out with excellent taste, and contains a rich 

 collection of trees and shrubs. Higliclere has long been celebrated for 

 its magnificent Rhododendrons. Mr. Carton, so well known as one of 

 the most successful hybridisers of his day, was for a number of years 

 gardener at this place, and his attention was particularly directed to 

 the raising of new varieties of this plant. Of his success the numerous 

 fine hybrids produced from R. arboreum, maximum, caucasicum, pon- 

 ticum, &c., give abundant evidence. 



Near the mansion are numerous beds principally filled with a choice 

 selection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. The greater part of these 

 have been taken up and re-arranged by Mr. Phipps, his lordship's 

 gardener at the present time. There are also numerous detached 

 clumps, belts, and single specimens throughout the whole extent of the 

 grounds. We noticed one plant, of the arboreum family, 15 feet high, and 

 10 feet through, which had been a complete mass of bloom. The use of 

 Laurels is to a great extent superseded by the Rhododendron ; for the 

 various purposes for which Laurels are used the Rhododendron answers 

 well, with the decided recommendation of being one of our gayest 

 flowering shrubs, Li some parts of the grounds the walks are flanked 

 by shelving banks to the height of twenty or thirty feet ; these are 

 clothed with dense masses of Rhododendrons, the effect of which when 

 in bloom is grand in the extreme. 



Besides the numerous attractions presented by the park and pleasure 

 grounds, there are several pieces of artificial water. " Milford Lake," 

 about 22 acres in extent, is of the most interesting character, its banks 

 are indented by numerous bays and inlets, while at other parts they 

 rise boldly to a considerable height. The Rhododendron is used here 

 with the best effect ; the promontories are in part covered by large 

 masses of that plant, while in different parts large masses of rockstone 

 protrude. These, with a variety of appropriate trees, give to the whole 

 a wild and picturesque appearance, which is much more pleasing to 

 the taste of most people than the smooth even banks of many, in other 

 respects, beautiful lakes. 



