MAT. 135 



and shrubs of the most choice kinds. Here you see the rarest Coniferse, 

 viz., Abies nobiUs, grandis, Douglasi ; Araucarias, Deodars ; all the 

 most valuable Pinuses, Irish Yews, and Junipers, and in fact every 

 novelty among Coniferous plants, and evergreens generally, by hundreds 

 and even thousands, forming, by their tasteful arrangement in masses, 

 avenues, &c., a grand and striking effect, which must be seen to be 

 fully appreciated, or even comprehended. 



Elvaston, as well as the adjoining country, is flat and low (being 

 only a few feet above the level of the Derwent, which flows close by), 

 an d to produce the necessary undulations of surface for an effective 

 landscape, high mounds have here and there been thrown up with 

 corresponding hollows ; these have been very tastefully planted out, 

 and give the idea of broken ground most effectually. 1 may here 

 remind the readers of the Florist that the whole of the grounds 

 surrounding the mansion were formed and planted during the lifetime 

 of the late Earl of Harrington, whose great taste and Hberality, in con- 

 junction with his gardener, Mr. Barron's, indomitable perseverance and 

 skill, aided by an artistic mind, have achieved results in planting and 

 arrangement without a parallel in Britain, and which elicit the admira- 

 tion of every one capable of estimating a work of art carried out with 

 living subjects. 



In addition to gardens planted in every style, including one in the 

 Lloorish or Arabesque, very correctly carried out, are avenues planted 

 with nearly every tree adapted for the purpose — pendulous, upright, 

 and intermediate — and in colour from the dark green of the upright 

 Yew to the silvery gray of the Irish Juniper. Mr. Barron has, besides, 

 introduced compound colours ; and gold and silver- striped Yews and 

 Hollies are planted in large numbers, and the effect, when contrasted 

 vnih. dark-leaved plants, is unique and beautiful in the extreme ; in 

 short, the artistic handling of the various shades and tints which the 

 fohage of trees present, in making up landscape scenery, has been most 

 cleverly carried out at Elvaston. 



There is a beautiful piece of water, which is belted with some of the 

 best arranged rockery I have ever seen ; this on an extensive scale, and 

 although the straight lines of trees may be considered formal by some, 

 the rockery is nature itself, so admirably is it arranged and planted 

 with appropriate trees and shrubs. 



Not content with planting " en masse " such rare things as the 

 nurseries and home propagation could furnish, large trees, including 

 Yews, Cedars of Lebanon, Spruce Firs, &c., of considerable age and 

 size have been removed fi'om one part of the grounds to others when 

 required for particular purposes, and many have been brought from con- 

 siderable distances to give a character to certain spots. All are gi'owing 

 admirably, and are really wonders, giving the plEu:e an appearance of 

 age, which could not otherwise have been effected under a number of 

 years. One thing in particular struck me — an Ash tree grafled some 

 40 or 50 feet high with the weeping variety ; in a few years this will 

 be a striking object. The stem is perfectly straight, and the top 

 growing vigorously. 



The past winter has made sad havoc with many of the choice kmds 



