372 THE GARDENER. [Aug. 



rich and commanding view over a wide extent of wooded scenery. The centre 

 portion consists of red brick with stone facings, flanked on either side by large 

 wings of entire red brick. The mansion is a huge square building in form, 

 and presents all those features of strength, massiveness, and durability, so 

 characteristic of our best English country residences. 



Immediately in front of the house runs parallel to it a broad terrace-walk, 

 on the right hand of which is a narrow Italian flower-garden, whilst on the 

 left sweeps away to the south a smooth expanse of turf, about 2 acres in ex- 

 tent, and which is bordered on either side by belts of fine Elms and other trees. 

 This forms a delightful grassy glade, on which archery and croquet can be in- 

 dulged in ad libitum. Passing on in a westerly direction, we pass a pretty sunken 

 Rose-garden, aud then, diverging to the right, the path leads through large 

 masses of Rhododendrons, seedling forms of R. ponticum, as well as fine hybrid 

 varieties, Kalmias, Laurels, and other fine shrubs that stand here and there upon 

 the grass, down to a trio of extremely fine specimens of the Lime-tree, Tilia 

 Europoca parvifolia, of the most noble dimensions, one of which is nearly 100 

 yards in circumference. From this point we turn to the left, and shortly enter 

 an enclosed Rhododendron garden, which lies lower than the surrounding ground, 

 and at the western extremity of which stands a pretty elevated summer-house, 

 built in the form of a Swiss chalet, access to which is obtained from the outside 

 by means of steps and a balcony, from which the spectator looks down upon an 

 entirely unique rockery of the most unfortnal kind, aud upon which are growing 

 in great profusion a large variety of our hardy British Ferns, chief amongst which 

 were fine specimens of the Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis. The rock-work re- 

 sembles mountainous and rugged scenery in its formation, and in one corner is a 

 miniatux^e lake, in which fish disport themselves in great serenity. This secluded 

 spot forms a most delightful retreat, and might almost tempt the busy man of 

 the world to turn hermit, so quiet are its surroundings. We now wend our way 

 along the southern side of the pleasure-grounds, passing some fine specimen 

 Magnolia acuminata, of great size, and covered with most luxuriant foliage. 

 These trees blossom freely in the early months of summer. Then past a secluded 

 poultry-yard and orchard, where the feathered occupants are confined to their 

 proper limits by means of a tall wire-fence, and we come upon an interesting 

 object, in the shape of a grove of the Ailanthus tree, Ailanthus glandulosa, of a 

 circular form, and which is protected all over the top and sides by a close wire- 

 netting, so that the birds may be excluded, lest they should prey upon the cater- 

 pillars, or Ailathus silkworm, that during the summer months feed and thrive 

 upon the enclosed leafage. 



This species of the silkworm was introduced from China about the year 1856, 

 and differs materially from the Bombyx or Mulberry silkworm, both in its habits 

 and the nature of the material it produces. Both insect and tree are rapidly 

 becoming acclimatised, and the silk produced by each caterpillar is larger in 

 quantity, but not so fine in quality, as that produced by its Mulberry namesake. 

 The eggs are deposited by the moth in about three days after it has emerged 

 from the cocoon, and these are hatched in fourteen days, when the young insects 

 are placed upon the Ailanthus trees by some convenient mode, and they eat and 

 thrive until they attain a length of from 3 to 4 inches. The caterpillars are 

 green in colour, and apparently resemble the well-known Potato variety. At 

 the age of from seven to eight weeks the cocoon is spun into a leaf of the Ailan- 

 thus, when they are carefully gathered and run on to a string and suspended for 

 the winter in a dry room, in which state the chrysalis remains until the spring, 

 when it emerges in the form of a moth, and once more the quickened insect life 



