IRISH GARDENING 



25 



Obituary. 



The death of ^Iv. Edward Walpole at an advanced 

 age. recently announced in the daily papers, 

 removes a landmark in Tiish horticulture, and 

 will evoke very genuine .'"eelings of regret in the 

 hearts of many who had the privilege of enjoying 

 his friendship. A still greater number will regret 

 the loss of the last of the three brothers who 

 created the beautiful garden at Mount Usher, and 

 filled it by their incessant work with so many rare 

 and beautiful plants, and who, prompted by their 

 kindly dispositions, 

 made it an easy 

 matter for all inte- 

 rested in gardens to 

 gain admission, to 

 see, learn, and enjoy. 

 Mount Usher was 

 started very many 

 years ago as a small 

 country residence to 

 which the brothers 

 Walpole w ere brought 

 by their parents to 

 spend holidays in the 

 country, and they 

 readily acquired a 

 taste for country life, 

 for natural history, 

 and for gardening. 

 On the death of 

 their father, George. 

 Thomas and Edward 

 Walpole entered into 

 possession of 3Iount 

 Usher, and started to 

 develop it. Their 

 labours were divided. 

 George and Edward 

 took over the plant 

 side, Thomas the con- 

 structive. Under the 

 last named changes in 

 the house were plan- 

 ned, walkswere made, 

 bridges constructed, 

 and the river banks 

 secured. George 1 and 

 Edward worked 



steadily at extending 

 the collections, hunt- 

 ing through cata- 

 logues, visiting gar- 

 dens, writing to 

 friends for infor- 

 mation and advice, 

 but never for plants 



or got by exchange, when this "method was 

 suggested to them l)y those who wished to 

 exchange. The collection rapidly grew, and as 

 space was limited the duplicates"^ were removed 

 and the less interesting and less attractive plants 

 had also to go to make room for newcomers. 

 None of this was hasty work. Notes were taken, 

 lists were prepared, plans considered, only to be 

 carried out when there was perfect agreenient, 

 and so Blount Usher was developed by the colla- 

 boration in loving harmony of the three brothers. 

 As space became more limited the grounds were 

 gradually extended until tlie present considerable 

 dimensions were reached. The brothers Walpole 



The Late Mr. Ed 

 In his garden at Blount 



these they purchased, 



quickly realised the great possibilities of ]\lount 

 Usher, especially as regards the cultivation of 

 what are generally known as half-hardy plants, 

 and they made many and interesting experiments 

 ill that direction, the results not only satisfying, 

 but sometimes even astonishing the enterprising 

 owners. Discriminating visitors and garden 

 owners from many countries also noted, and were 

 delighted and astonished. Favoured by its 

 })eautiful situation by the river and minor 

 streams running through it, thus ensuring an 

 al)uiidant supply of soft water, by a mild and 

 humid climate, by a fertile .soil, free from lime, 



Mount Usher had 

 much to recommend it 

 Advantage has been 

 taken of these natural 

 assets, and it can be 

 asserted with full 

 knowledge and con- 

 fidence that Mount 

 Usher at present is 

 the most interesting 

 and edifying garden 

 of its size in Ireland, 

 if not in the British 

 Isles. 



George was the first 

 to die, Thomas 

 followed not long 

 afterwai'ds, and now 

 we have to record 

 the loss of Edward. 

 The late :\lr. Edward 

 Walpole was a man 

 of the kindliest dis- 

 position, of sound 

 common sense, and 

 of great enterprise. 

 He had a retentive 

 memory, and those 

 with whonx he was 

 on terms of intimacy 

 were frequently enter- 

 tained Vvith stories 

 about his life ex- 

 periences in Ireland, 

 and about various 

 visits to other coun- 

 tries, to gardens and 

 to nurseries. His early 

 days were i^assed in 

 Waterford, and the 

 writer I'emembers his 

 telling hinx that one 

 of the conditions of 

 an apprentice enjoin- 

 ing then was that 



WAKD Walpole 

 Uslier, Co. Wic-klow 



salmon was only to l)e given for dinner on a limited 

 1' umber of days each week. No need for such a con- 

 dition nowadays ! Edward W^alpole spent most of 

 liis Saturdays to ^Mondays atMountUsher. As soon 

 as he arrived there he changed his coat, armed 

 himself with trowel and pipe, foi^got all business 

 cares and worries, and sallied forth amongst his 

 ti-easures, humming softly to himself, joining the 

 birds in their song and nature in her delights, 

 happy and joyous. This is the picture, a satis- 

 fying one, whicli rises in the minds of his friends 

 when they think of hini. 



All Irish gardeners will rejoice to know that 

 Mount Usher is to be kept up. The mantle has 

 fallen on the new owner, Mr. E. H. Walpole. 



F. W. M, 



