312 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDEKER. 



( April 11, 1872. 



family brought it to Lord Bruce, " hy wliieh means the estate, 

 which was derived from the Bruces to the Harringtons, after a 

 long descent, passed fi-om the Harringtons to the Bruces, Earls 

 of Aylesbury." From them it came to the Earl of Gains- 

 borough, who had married the heiress of Sir Baptist Hicks, and 

 it has continued until now a residence of that noble family. 



The pleasure grounds are very extensive, amounting to about 

 seventy acres, a large portion of which is kept as dressed 

 grounds. Passing over the kitchen garden for the present, 

 and taking a walk by the south side, where the boundary is 

 formed by a piece of ornamental water, we reach a gate which 

 gives access to the main walk from the mansion. Immediately 

 after passing through the gate, on the left is a gi-ass walk 

 bordered by a Sweet Briar hedge and a beautiful Laurustinus 

 hedge .3 feet higli and nearly 7 feet wide. In this part there 

 are several veiT fine specimens of Arbor-Vitae, beautifuUv fur- 

 nished and from 20 to 30 feet high, likewise Yews, Larches, 



Pinus insignis 40 feet liigli, Thujopsis borealis, and Taxodiura 

 or Sequoia sempervirens H5 feet high. This is flourishing iu 

 little else but sand, and Mr. Smith, the gardener, tliinks that 

 it thrives better in this than in richer soil. There are also 

 several excellent specimens of the Chinese Juniper and other 

 Conifers. Northwards a new drive has been formed to a pro- 

 jected central entrance to the kitchen garden, and the giound 

 included between the drive and the ornamental water is being 

 gradually planted as a pinetum, affording here and there glimpses 

 of the water, towards which the ground slopes rather rapidly 

 from the upper walk. Some Wellingtonias transplanted iu 

 the autumn of 1869 had each year made growths of 18 inches ; 

 but in Abies Douglasu there was a gi'eat difference noticeable 

 iu the growth of the branches, those on the south-ea>t or most 

 exposed side of the tree being far shorter than those on the less 

 exposed but otherwise more favourable sides. Here, again, were 

 some remarkably fine specimens of Pinus insignis and .Jnni- 



perus virginiana or Red Cedar, and amidst the numerous 

 "nurses" which at present occupy the newer portion of the 

 ground are yomig trees forming the nucleus of what mil 

 doubtless be an excellent collection. Lower down, towards the 

 water, is neatly-shaven turf with Pui'ple Beeches, Black Aus- 

 trian Pines, and a variety of other trees ; and beyond dense 

 masses of trees, chiefly deciduous, which have a vei-y pic- 

 turesque effect, especially when casting their dai-k .shadows ou 

 the water. 



Towards the mansion, of which we give a view,* the pleasme 

 gi-ounds narrow considerably, but new roads and walks have 

 been laid out and new plantations made, wliich in time wiU add 

 much to the apparent extent. A magnificent old Lime tree is 

 gi-owing to the west of the house, and many fine specimen trees 

 are dotted about. Ou the southern side is a beautifully laid-out 

 geometrical flower garden, of which we purpose giving a re- 

 presentation hereafter ; at the time of our risit (the beginning 

 of llarcli) no idea could be formed of its summer aspect when 

 filled with bedding plants, but even then its outUnes and 

 architectural accompaniments gave it a char-acter which most 

 gardens do not possess. 



There is one drawback to the new mansion — that it lies ou 

 rather low ground, and in this respect the old HaU, which still 

 exists, has the advantage, as it is situated on higher ground, 



* From a photograph by Mr. Drake, of Uppingham. 



and commands more extensive views. The date'of its erection 

 is not known, and though internally in a woeful state of dilapi- 

 dation and utilised for a variety of purposes, externally it has 

 a time-honoured aspect ; here Ivy-tovered, there gi-ey witli 

 age, it contrasts favourably with the larger, more elegant 

 modem hall. Adjoining is an enclosure of about an acre 

 surrounded by a Yew hedge, whidi is now being restored by 

 cutting back, as it had got bare at bottom ; and witliin this 

 again is a Sweet Briar hedge. This would have been a fine 

 site for a flower garden southward-facing, with terraces re- 

 quii'ing little more than the finishing touclies of the modern 

 gai'dener, and probably the work of some of Mi'. Smith's pre- 

 decessors. It is not unlikely that at some future time ad- 

 vantage will be taken of this piece of ground to form a second 

 flower garden, or at least to turn the position to account in 

 some such way. Growing out of one of the walls of the old 

 Hall Mr. Smith pointed out tufts of Ceterach officinarum, re- 

 marking that he had not before known Rutlandshire stated as 

 one of its habitats. 



From the old and new Halls there ai-e many fine views 

 across the pleasure grounds and park : one of the most striking 

 of these we give,t merely remarking that it is taken from the 

 house, looking across the flower garden towai'ds the village 

 church on the south-west. There are likewise several pretty 



t This is from a photograph by Mi-. Robinson, St. Martin's, Stamford. 



