OCTOBER. 255 



WILLISON'S rtOSE-NURSERY, WHITBY. 



Early one morning in July (and the morning, as Mr. Paul says, is 

 '• the fittest time for these rambles") I paid a visit to Mr. Willison's 

 Rose -Nursery, which is situated about a mile to the eastward of 

 Whitby, and known by the name of " New Gardens," in which we 

 have another instance, among many, of the impropriety of designating 

 any place by the term new. These Gardens are now nearly 200 

 years old, as appears from the following inscription on a stone 

 originally built in the wall : 



" I S'' HvGH Cholmeley Kt and Barronet and Elizabeth 

 MY Deare Wife (Davghter to S^ Will: Twisden of Great 

 Peckham in y^ Covnty of Kent K' and Barronet) bvilt this 

 Wall and planted this Orchard Anno Domini 1652." 



Under these lines is a shield bearing the arms of both famihes 

 empaled, with the word Cholmeley near the Chomeley arms on the 

 dexter side, and the word Twisden near tlie Twisden arms on the 

 sinister side. Beneath the shield are these two lines : 



" Our handy worke like to y^ frutefull tree 

 Bless thou, O Lord ; let it not blasted bee." 



The garden was cultivated almost exclusively for vegetables and 

 horticultural produce until the year 1812, when a part of the ground 

 was appropriated and converted into a Botanic Garden, Mr. Alex- 

 ander Willison, the present lessee, being appointed the curator. The 

 collection of botanical plants was never considerable, but included 

 several very rare specimens. About the year 1828, the botanical 

 department was discontinued for lack of support. Shortly afterwards, 

 Mr. William Willison, the son of the lessee, began to cultivate Roses, 

 and paid considerable attention to the raising of seedlings. At this 

 time it was the only Rose -nursery in the north ; in fact, 1 believe this 

 was the only nursery in England where Roses were cultivated for sale 

 to any extent, unless it was Mr. Rivers, who began some time about 

 the same period. 



The soil is of alluvial loam, tolerably stiff, and of considerable 

 depth. There are about 700 varieties in cultivation at this nursery, 

 comprising all the newest and best Roses grown, besides a great 

 number of very fine seedlings. The Roses appear to thrive the best 

 here cultivated as "pillar Roses," trained to tall pillars, and when 

 in full bloom have a very fine effect. There are very few standard 

 Roses in the nursery, except those cultivated for sale. 



A great number of the China, Noisette, and other fine Roses do 

 not bloom well in this locality except under glass ; the bloom-buds 

 rarely expand. I will therefore enumerate a few good Roses that 

 appeared to bloom here in perfection. 



Ayrshire: Ruga, flesh; Queen Victoria (Willison's), rosy lilac, 

 blooming in graceful clusters. Multijlora : Model (Willison), pur- 

 ple, a beautiful Ranunculus-like flower. Hybrid Sweet Briers : A 

 great number of double and semi- double varieties. Moss Roses : 



