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GARDENERS' CHRONICLE 



ters of tubular llowers in profusion and there are fine 

 plants of the olive, the caper, the loquat, and many 

 species of Opuntia from Texas and Mexico that are 

 usually considered to be tender. Here, too, may be seen 

 such plants as Camellia, Passitlora ceenilca, and Aiiikia 

 cxgomcris. It was in one of these bays that the hand- 

 some Bromeliad. Piiya chilnisis. was flowered out-of- 

 doors. At the time of writing, however, it is but a 

 wreck of its former self. In this part of the garden 

 several species of Criniiin are making a brave display, 

 and several varieties of Aiiiaryllis Belladonna are exhib- 

 iting their snowy flowers. 



The only spot in the out-door garden where the plants 

 seem to be really flourishing is the bog-garden, for here 

 there is no lack of water. This beauty spot is secluded 

 and occupies a basin-like depression. A pool in the 

 center has around its edges a number of small islands 

 which are easily accessible from the bank. These islands 

 are raised only a few inches above water level and pro- 

 vide ideal conditions for plants that revel in wet feet but 

 which will not grow satisfactorily when actually in 

 water. Here one may gain a good idea of the decorative 

 value of the California Saxifrage. 6". peltata. This is a 

 plant in great favor in England for stream and bog 

 planting. We do not remember having seen it in N. E. 

 America but it is a plant well worthy of attention and 

 should endure our climate. It produces massive 

 clumps of umbrella-like leaves with scalloped edges and 

 bronze coloring on petioles two feet long. Its flowers 

 are produced in early Spring before the leaves appear 

 and although they are pleasing and welcome thev are 

 not particularly showy. 



The entrance to the bog-garden aftords a charminii' 

 example of informal planting. A background is pro- 

 vided by a picturesque specimen of the California Red- 

 wood, Sequoia sempcn-irens. whilst the foreground is 

 occupied by healthy clumps of Bamboo, Ostrich Fern. 

 Saxifraga peltafa. Primula japonica. Dodeeathcon. and 

 Spiraeas of the moisture loving kinds. 



While on the subject of plants that thrive only wlien 

 in proximitv to water mention nuist be made of the won- 

 derful specimen of Gunnera manicata from Brazil that 

 grows by the lakeside in this garden. There mav be 

 finer examples of this noble plant in cultivation but so 

 far we have failed to see any. The clump under notice 

 is from fifteen to twenty feet in diameter, the leaves at- 

 tain a height of six feet, and in most cases the leaf 

 blades are at least four feet in diameter. A gardener 

 does not need to have a great imagination in order to 

 realize the possibilities of a plant of this character in 

 landscape composition. 



The garden contains manv wonderful specimen plants 

 of shrubs and trees, as might be expected from a collec- 

 tion that was started in 1846. The guide book states 

 that : "The trees and shrubs of this garden have been 

 described by a great authority as a remarkable assem- 

 blage," a pronouncement that will be agreed with bv 

 any visitor who knows anything at all about the subject. 



Near the entrance is a glorious bush of Berberis sten- 

 ophylla fully twenty feet in diameter and nine feet high. 

 This must be a gorgeous sight in Spring when smothered 

 with its myriads of bright yellow flowers. It is a great 

 pity that it is not hardy in the northern part of our 

 country, for, although there are .so many species of 

 Berberis in cultivation (according to some far too manv), 

 there are dozens that we could dis]H'nse with for the 

 sake of this gem. It stands shearing well and maJ<es a 

 fine impenetrable hedge as evidenced by the splendid 

 example aroutid the formal water garden at Kew. 



Cambridge is oroud and ju.stifiably so, of a magni- 

 ficent grou]i of Pteroearya fra.vinifolia (P. eaiicasica). 



a handsome tree with pinnate leaves. It consists of a 

 score or more trunks springing from a small area and 

 arising to a height of over sixty feet. This forms a 

 mass, rounded in outline and, viewed from a short dis- 

 tance, has the appearance of a single tree. Botanicallv it 

 is related to Juglans. but its small, winged fruits dis- 

 posed in chain-like racemes do not, to the layman, sug- 

 gest any connection with the walnuts. 



This garden has the honor of possessing the finest 

 specimen in Britain of the N. American Pawpaw, Asi- 

 niina triloba, which is over 14 feet high and over 16 feet 

 through. Other North American plants that flourish 

 here and are worthy of attention are several good speci- 

 mens of the Big Tree, Sequoia gigantca, and a perfect 

 specimen, fort}' feet in height, of a Mexican oak. Oner- 

 cus obtusata. 



The fairlv extensive range of glass-houses contains 

 many plants of interest both to the gardener and botanist, 

 but space will not admit of any attempt to describe them. 

 The arrangement of these houses is ideal from the point 

 of view of convenience in the care of the plants. They 

 are all connected to a corridor, a hundred yards long, on 

 the north side of which are the potting sheds. Thus pot- 

 ting, etc., can be attended to without taking the plants 

 into the ojjcn, whilst the corridor with its solid beds on 

 either side provides splendid facilities for the cultivation 

 of climbing plants which are trained on a trellis near the 

 roof. 



As evidence of the hold that the cultivation of alpines 

 has upon the English people it may be mentioned that of 

 all the gardens we have visited not one has been found 

 without its rock garden. In some cases, as at Alden- 

 ham House it is of relative unimportance, and in others 

 as in R. A. Malby's backyard garden in London, it is the 

 main feature of the establishment. We must trv to find 

 space in a future article to write more fully of this re- 

 markable London garden, constructed on an area of 

 70 x 30 feet. 



One of the most beautiful rock gardens we have seen, 

 in its construction, planting, and harmony with its sur- 

 roundings, is that at Chiklerly Hall, alwut eight miles 

 from Cambridge. 



The mansion is a red brick Elizabethan structure, of 

 added interest because of the fact that King Charles was 

 once imprisoned in one of its rooms. The terrace is laid 

 out with formal beds which in this case do not call for 

 notice ; but on it there is a fine old. gnarled Laburnum 

 tree which must be of great age; and a Tree Peonv at 

 least fifty years old. The steps leading down from the 

 terrace are worthy of notice. Looking up from below 

 there is first a short flight, flanked on either side with 

 huge bushes of lavender. The interstices of the steps 

 are planted with low growing plants .such as Thyme. 

 Acccna. Corydalis hitca. etc. Then there is a landing 

 with a sundial in the center, and on either side slightly 

 raised semi-circular platforms for the support of garden 

 seats. Here is to be seen a fine example of pavement 

 planting — the combmation of dwarf upright growing 

 plants and trailers being in correct proportion to give a 

 harmonious result in combination with the stone flagging 

 and sundial. From this point looking towards the house 

 we see another flight of steps, also planted, and the open- 

 ing of the terrace wall bounded with red brick pillars 

 which arc mellowed by time and partially covered with 

 ivv. In the distance is the (luaint and ancient doorwav 

 of the mansion framed in climbing plants. The whole 

 forms a picture that is both charming and restful. 



To the left of the steps and reaching up to the terrace 

 walls, which by the way is clothed with wall shrubs and 

 (Continued on page 701) 



