10 



JOURNAIi OF HOBTICULTOEE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ July 3, 1873. 



are the pictures of rude health, and being annually covered 

 with a profusion of bloom seem to luxuriate in their location. 

 The light being only on one side of the trees — for trees they are 

 — have grown all in that direction. They are planted in slate 

 tubs, the soil being loam and peat. It is a pity that a house 

 of this size and substantial character should not be made more 

 useful by having the present roof removed and a glazed one 

 substituted. It might in this way be transformed into a hand- 

 some conservatory, for which its ample dimensions and suffi- 

 cient height fully qualify it. 



Between this ilowor garden and the water is a lawn, on which 

 are planted some fine specimens of ornamental trees. Among 

 these our attention was attracted to noble Tulip Trees, Cut- 

 leaved Beech, Eobiniaviscosa,rteleatrifoliata, and other species, 

 while at some distance from these there is perhaps as fine a i 



specimen of Abies Clanbrasihaua as is to be found in the 

 country. We measured it, and found it was 37 yards in cir- 

 cumference, forming a perfectly round ball. 



The kitchen gardens are a mile from the house, and the path 

 leading to them is through the woods, from which picturesque 

 peeps of the valley and the richly wooded park beyond are here 

 and there obtained. Since Mr. Taylor was appointed to the 

 management of the gardens great alterations and improvements 

 have been made in this part of the grounds. At intervals along 

 the course of this walk the original underwood has been cleared 

 and the space occupied by specimen Conifers and other orna- 

 mental trees, while in places where the ground is suitable wide 

 clearings are made, and deep glades which lose themselves iu 

 the shady vegetation make a pleasing vai'iety in the scenery. 

 In these alterations we were told the Marquis takes a lively iu- 



I.ONGLEAT. 



terest, and the effective manner in which they are carried out 

 testify to his lordship's good taste and appreciation of artistic 

 design. As we near the kitchen garden these clearings become 

 more extensive, and between the woods and the entrance the 

 walk leads through an extensive lawn, planted with fine speci- 

 mens of ornamental trees, some of which are of great age and 

 size, and among them a Salisburia adiautifolia 05 feet high. 

 On the way from the house through the woods are some fine 

 treej of Purple Beech, and a noble specimen of Tulip Tree 

 lOO feet high. 



The kitchen garden within the walls seems larger than it 

 really is, Mr. Taylor having given the extent as four acres and 

 a half. The glass is extensive, and is devoted to plant and 

 fruit-growing, much in the proportions that are expected in 

 an establishment of the size of Ijongleat. For internal decora- 

 tion Mr. Taylor sends iu fourteen hand-barrowloads of plants at 

 a time, from which one may gather to what extent plants are 

 grown, and they are well grown, as everything else in the 

 garden is. In the range of old houses we saw one division of 

 it, 40 feet long, entirely filled with an old Vine in the best of 

 health. The new houses which have been built in the upper 

 garden are very commodious and useful ; they consist of three 

 ranges standing parallel to each other, each of which is 35 yards 

 long by 18 feet wide. Though skilful in aU the branches of 

 gardening, Mr. Taylor is especially so as a fruit-grower ; his 

 Cucumbers, Melons, and Vines are a sight worth seeing. Like 



a judicious man, he never grows more than one sort of Cuctlin- 

 ber and Melon, and consequently he has always a pure stock 

 of each, instead of the mongrel varieties which those must 

 necessarily have who grow more than one variety. These he 

 grows trained under the glass like Vines ; and like Vines they 

 are in more than one respect, for the strength and vigour of 

 the stems and branches are marvellous, though each plant 

 has not a bushel of soil to grow in. The Melon to wliich Mr. 

 Taylor gives the preference is Cashmere, a valuable old variety, 

 the only defect of which is its Uability to crack in ripening. 

 This he obviates by strangling the stalk of the fruit and check- 

 ing the excessive flow of sap. 



The great feature in the garden at Longleat is the large 

 vinery which has been recently erected. It is 21G feet long 

 by :iO feet wide, span-roofed with a lantern ridge, and 18 feet 

 from the floor to the ridge. It is a fine structure, and, with 

 the exception of the large conservatory at Chiswick, we should 

 suppose this is the finest vineiy in the kingdom. The Vinos 

 are all planted inside, and we never saw plants growing with 

 greater luxuriance. The Vines are yet young and have not 

 produced fruit, but we expect to hear of their doings some day. 

 This house, the design of Mr. Taylor and built under his 

 direction, is worthy of his ability ; and constructed as it is 

 according to his ideas of the requirements of good Vine-grow- 

 ing, we can see already in the state of the Vines that his con- 

 ception has been a true one. 



