i8 7 o.] GARDEN RECORDS. 273 



the top so as to give a bush form to the trees. The young wood of the previous 

 year gives an abundance of fruit of fine quality. The manner in which these 

 shoots bear fruit has induced Mr Daniels to attempt the cultivation of Apples 

 as cordons, and he has now a row along most of the borders of the kitchen-gar- 

 den, planted about 18 inches from the path, and trained to a stout galvanised- 

 iron wire about 18 inches in height. Those that had been planted, two years 

 were covered with blossom, and had the appearance of a floral bottle-brush. 

 Some of the best kinds of Apples are being cultivated, and Mr Daniels is san- 

 guine as to the success of his experiment. 



A wall of Figs, having a south-western aspect, was also noticeable. The wall 

 was 30 yards in length and 8 feet in height ; in front of it was a border 6 feet in 

 width, the wall coming out to the pathway at right angles at each end. Over it, 

 resting on the wall at the back, and supported on stout poles at the front of 

 a nearly similar height to the wall, was a glass roof, the border being entirely 

 open on the path side. Six brown Turkey Fig-trees were planted against the 

 wall ; the uppermost shoots nearest the roof were brought forward and tied out 

 to two strong wires running lengthwise, 5 and 6 feet in height. At the time 

 root-action begins, a good soaking of water is given, and that suffices to carry 

 the plants through the season, save and except such rain as finds its way to 

 them. From the end of July to the end of October there is a plentiful supply 

 of fruit. The border is also utilised for the production of early Potatoes, Let- 

 tuces, and Radishes ; and also for cultivating two lines of Cordon Apples, one 

 trained abont 15 inches from the ground, the other a foot higher. 



In the front of the mansion we found a pleasant terrace-garden planted with 

 spring blooming and foliaged plants : of the former, Daisies, Pansies, Myosotis, &c, 

 some very pretty effective arrangements being worked out. There was also a 

 border in front of the house, and it struck us that a back row of Dielytra specta- 

 bilis mingled with the old purple Honesty (Lunaria biennis) was a capital and 

 striking arrangement. 



From the terrace-garden the pleasure-grounds swept away in a gentle declivity 

 towards the confines of the park, admitting of space for some fine specimen Coni- 

 ferae worthy of notice. The spot occupied by these had a deep substratum of chalk, 

 and was very exposed (about 750 feet above the sea-level), and being open to the 

 rude shocks of the west winds coming sweeping over from the Bristol Channel, and 

 along the valleys of Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Oxfordshire. There was a specimen 

 "VVellingtonia gigantea, planted in 1861, about 21 feet 9 inches in height, the cir- 

 cumference of the stem next the ground being 3 feet 9 inches, the girth of the 

 tree, 2 feet from the ground, 30 feet, and pretty well covered with cones. This 

 plant bore the rigour of the previous hard winters without sustaining the slightest 

 harm, but the keen cutting east winds of the past winter had very much browned 

 it. Also, a specimen Pinus insiguis, planted ten years ago, now a well-furnished 

 tree 23 feet in height ; a Cedar of Lebanon, planted in 1813 or 4, a very healthy 

 vigorous specimen, 40 feet in height, but lost its leader in 1860; Cedrus Deodara, 

 planted in 1843, now 38 feet in height, a very fine well-furnished tree, with a stem 

 6 feet 2 inches in circumference ; also a fine Pinus Austriaca and others ; all 

 more or less possessing a close wiry habit of growth, probably owing to the position. 

 About the fringes of carriage-drives, shrubbery borders, woodland walks, &c, 

 could be seen many pretty spring flowers, half naturalised, and lighting up with 

 a cheerful beauty many an otherwise dreary-looking spot. The double and single 

 forms of Anemone nemorosa, as well as tne rose-coloured single variety, the 

 charming Anemone appenina, glowing Oxlips, Scillas, Narcissi, &c, were being 

 used with the best effect. 



