136 THE FLORIST. 



winter ! " They are neither difficult to manage or keep through the 

 winter ; on the contrary, no collection gives us so little trouble. If 

 kept dry when in a dormant state, watered freely during the growing 

 time, grown in a proper box or frame, and always kept clean, success 

 is tolerably certain. The Auricula, like the Carnation, is by no means 

 a tender plant, if properly grown. A single mat was all the protec- 

 tion given to our plants during the long severe winter, and kept in a dry 

 frame. 



HOLLYHOCKS. 

 These are easily grown and bloomed, if you have a good plant ; but 

 here is the difficulty. How are good plants to be made ? Our most 

 experienced propagators have failed this winter. Many that had con- 

 sidered they had found the best method of producing a large number 

 of plants from one root, have all at once found themselves at fault. 

 Hundreds of what appeared to be well-estabhshed plants in the autumn 

 have gone off during the winter. Young struck plants also rot at the 

 collar after being well rooted. Those that have small but healthy 

 plants now will do well to repot them into rich light soil, and grow 

 them for a time under glass, planting them out into well prepared and 

 well manured ground as soon as the roots are working freely round the 

 sides of the pots. Strong plants may be wintered in a cold pit or 

 frame ; if weakly, a little gentle heat, not very moist or very dry, will 

 assist them greatly. The summer treatment is very simple and easy, 

 after being securely wintered. 



HIGHNAM COURT, NEAR GLOUCESTER, 

 The Residence of T. Gambier Parry, Esq. 

 Mr. Parry having for some years past been a most assiduous collector 

 of Coniferae, and having obtained his permission to figure any plants 

 in his collection for the Florist, &c., we paid Highnam Court a visit 

 the end of March, for the purpose of examining the Pinetum, &c., and 

 append the following notes made on the spot for the benefit of our 

 readers. 



Since Highnam Court came into the possession of its present liberal 

 proprietor, great improvements have taken place, both in the mansion 

 and grounds ; in the alterations of the latter and formation of the orna- 

 mental and flower gardens, Mr. Parry has been assisted by his very 

 intelligent gardener, Mr. Wells, son of a gardener well known to many 

 of our readers — Mr. Wells, late of Redleaf, in Kent. The " Court " is 

 situate on gently rising ground, and commands a pleasing and extensive 

 prospect ; the principal front is embraced by a terrace running its entire 

 length, laid out in parterres, and with a conservatory and flower garden 

 on the east of the house. Near the conservatory is a fine specimen of 

 Arbutus Andrachne, upwards of 20 feet high, and a Cupressus thuri- 

 fera of the same height. From the west front a straight walk connects 

 the mansion with the "winter or rock garden" a very interesting 

 part of the grounds, occupying a dell or deep valley. Advantage has 

 been taken of the inequalities of the ground to form the rockery on a 

 grand scale ; this, as well as the accompanying water, has been tastefully 



