NOVEMBER. 325 



ENVILLE HALL, 



THE SEAT OF THE EARL OF STAMFORD AND WARRINGTON. 



Within the last few years this place has deservedly become very 

 celebrated, in consequence of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington 

 having expended an enormous sum of money in adding considerably to 

 the pleasure grounds and glass structures, as well as purchasing 

 extensively both ornamental and new plants. In this his lordship has 

 received valuable assistance from Mr. Alton, the head gardener at 

 Enville, so that in a very short space of time this has been made one 

 of the most extensive and beautiful gardens in the country. 



When the Earl of Stamford came into possession of the estate there 

 were but six acres of garden, but in 1847 and the two following years 

 twenty acres more were added, and within the last two years upwards 

 of fifty more, making in all about 100 acres of pleasure ground. The 

 grounds are richly diversified, while the situation itself is naturally 

 beautiful, and with the introduction of water in four different places ihetout 

 ensemble is such as to please the most fastidious. A noble conservatory 

 has just been added, and is the most majestic glass erection we have 

 ever seen, and so far as our pages will admit, the accompanying sketch 

 gives a good representation of it. It was built by JNIessrs. Gray and 

 Ormson, of Danvers-street, Chelsea, and certainly reflects great credit 

 on their taste and skill as horticultural builders. 



It is not intended to plant out the different kinds of plants in beds, 

 as is common in large houses of this description, but to grow them in 

 pots and tubs, and by this means a much greater display can be kept 

 up throughout the year, by using the extensive plant houses in the 

 kitchen garden as a nursery for that purpose. Creepers are to be 

 planted out round the pillars, and a number of ornamental baskets 

 filled with suitable plants, similar to those that have such a pleasing 

 effect at the Crystal Palace, will be suspended from different parts of 

 the building. 



The flower garden, when we saw it in August, was a complete mass 

 of bloom, and is of no particular plan, the beds being chiefly circular, 

 of a good size, and each filled with one variety of plant. The most 

 effective colours for contrast are chosen, and many of the beds were 

 filled with very choice things, such as Calceolaria Purity, a new white 

 variety, which has succeeded very well, and will make a valuable 

 plant for the Italian style of flower gardens. C. amplexicaulis is grown 

 largely, and is an excellent late variety, and one of the best bedders 

 when well done. Among other Calceolarias used at Enville are 

 Prince of Orange, a light orange kind, of excellent habit, and certainly 

 one of the best, being very dwarf, and a profuse bloomer ; Frosti, a 

 pretty small yellow, but soon flowers itself out ; Gem, a deep rich 

 brown variety ; and Aurantia. 



In Geraniums, the sorts grown are Sidonia, Unique, and Conspicuum ; 

 these three do best in pots, plunged. Commander-in-Chief, Cerise 

 Unique, with some of the best old kinds of scarlet, are also freely used ; 

 Hendersoni is found to be the only white worth growing out of doors. 



