100 THE FLORIST. 



things in this way are to be seen (in this country at least) than the 

 view down the centre walk of the flower-garden at Trentham, bor- 

 dered as it is with the Portugal Laurels just noticed, and terminating 

 at the water's edge with a noble group of sculpture ; the lake be- 

 yond, and the wooded hill to the right of it reaching to its margin, 

 affording a suitable contrast to the scene more immediately beneath 

 the eye of the spectator. The river Trent, which until last season 

 ran through the lake, and annually deposited a large amount of mud 

 in its passage, has been diverted a considerable distance to the left, 

 by cutting another channel for it, so as to avoid the lake altogether ; 

 the water of which is now supplied solely from springs, and conse- 

 quently its purity will not be interfered ^vith, as it was formerly, 

 every time the Trent became flooded. The neck of land now sepa- 

 rating the river from the lake has been cleverly managed by Mr. 

 Fleming. At a point higher up the grounds, from w^hich the whole 

 is overlooked, the river and lake appear as parts of the same piece 

 of w^ater. The point of divergence being skilfully planted up, the 

 river appears as if winding round a kind of peninsula, and appa- 

 rently meeting the lake beyond it. When the planting on this part 

 shall have obtained a few years' growth, it will form a very interest- 

 ing portion of the grounds. 



Let us now, however, pass on to the kitchen-garden, visiting in 

 our way the conservatory, or winter-garden, which forms a connect- 

 ing link between the ornamental grounds and the culinary depart- 

 ment ; this glass erection forms a large square, with a ridge-and- 

 furrow roof, and is chiefly devoted to the growth of the more arbo- 

 rescent kinds of conservatory plants, which are principally planted 

 in open borders : Acacias, Camellias, Orange-trees, Polygalas, &c. 

 were growing in great luxuriance, as well as other sorts of conserva- 

 tory plants ; a temperature is maintained through the ^dnter only 

 sufficient to exclude frost, and therefore the plants do not bloom 

 early ; but this renders the display they make much more effective 

 at a time when the family is generally at home to enjoy it. Every 

 thing gave promise of an abundance of bloom. 



In the kitchen-garden several ranges of pits are devoted to Pines, 

 which were all growing strongly, and were short-leaved, stocky plants; 

 just the sort to produce large handsome fruit, which some of them 

 were showing ; the whole were planted out on the open-bed system, 

 in twelve or flfteen inches of soil, over hot-water pipes, which sup- 

 ply bottom - heat : nothing could be simpler or more successful. 

 Vineries are numerous, the demand for Grapes being great. In 

 one house were hanging fine bunches of Barbarossa, still fresh and 

 plump. In the early vinery the Grapes were then (February 18th) 

 colouring; a fine crop, and the berries well swelled. It may be re- 

 marked, that as a regular succession of Grapes is required through- 

 out the year, the houses are brought forward in rotation to meet the 

 demand. The vines all looked vigorous, and gave promise of plen- 

 tiful crops. One house was filled with the " Mill Hill,'"' a black 

 Grape of the Hamburgh class, but with larger berries. 



Peaches are ripe at Trentham in May. The trees in the first 



