1870.] HURSLEY PARK AND GARDENS. 373 



commences. The growth and preservation of the Ailanthus silkworm, as carried 

 out at Hursley Park, uuder the immediate superintendence of Lady Heathcote, 

 is simply experimental in its character, but its value for commercial purposes 

 has to be tested. 



From this interesting feature we pass on to the kitchen-gardens, which are situ- 

 ated on the east side of the pleasure-grounds, and indeed formed our starting- 

 point, but the consideration and notice of which we deferred until the other 

 portions of this fine place had been scanned, the department of vegetable garden- 

 ing constituting the special reason why the gardens here were made the subject 

 of the present illustration. 



The whole of the grounds covered by the mansion and offices, lawn, shrubberies, 

 and kitchen -gardens, consists of about 18 acres, and is enclosed from the path 

 by a ring-fence, sufficiently high to exclude the deer. The kitchen-gardens com- 

 prise about 6 acres of this enclosure, 4 acres of which are surrounded on the 

 north, east, and south sides with a high brick wall, the outer sides of which are 

 devoted to the growth of trained pear-trees of all the best kinds, which are 

 this season in fine health, and producing a heavy crop of fruit. A wide border 

 in front of these trees is devoted to the culture of vegetables, and on its outer 

 edge is a long line of circular-trained Apple-trees running from the north-eastern 

 to the south-western corners, a broad grass walk again bordering the whole. 



Inside the w T alled garden we find that in the centre, and running its entire 

 length, is a very broad smoothly-mown grass walk, the same being carried cross- 

 wise. On either side of this walk is an herbaceous border, in which many 

 of our old favourite plants are cultivated, the back of each border being fenced 

 off by continuous lengths of trained espalier fruit-trees, the quarters devoted to 

 vegetable culture being within. The inside portions of the walls are devoted to 

 the growth of stone fruits ; but the trees here, as in too many other gardens, bear 

 evidence that our English climate has gradually become unsuitable to the culture 

 in the open air of the more tender and choice fruits. Singularly enough, how- 

 ever, there is growing, in a sheltered corner in the garden, a large Violet Hative 

 Nectarine tree, trained upon a trellis in umbrella fashion, that has not received 

 any other protection than its situation affords, and is literally loaded with fruit 

 that will ripen in September. This is a decided novelty, and is also an entire 

 exception to the general rule. 



The glass-houses are limited in extent, and are devoted almost exclusively 

 to the growth of Grapes and the housing of plants in winter. These are en- 

 closed by a remarkable Yew hedge, some 8 or 9 feet through, and which looks 

 like a massive green rampart, so smooth and neat is it kept. 



In furnishing from year to year the vegetable supplies requisite for a large 

 private establishment, such as generally constitutes the household of a wealthy 

 English gentleman, the gardener is called upon to exercise considerable fore- 

 thought and good judgment ; but that such essentials are not lacking here, a walk 

 through the vegetable department will speedily show ; and we now will glance at the 

 crops as at present under cultivation to illustrate this. Of course, Peas are largely 

 grown. The earliest sowings are put in in a warm border in February, and consist 

 of First Crop and Sangster's No. 1, succeeded by Taber's Perfection and Dick- 

 son's First Early. Then large sowings of Champion of England, Laxton's 

 Supreme, British Queen, Veitch's Perfection, and a fine late selected variety 

 having the local appellation of " Merdon Castle." The gatherings commence at 

 the end of May, and continue to the end of October. As will be seen by the 

 above list, tall kinds are mostly grown for the main crops ; but sticks are plentiful 

 here, the expense of which is generally a grave question. Of Potatoes, early and 



