490 



JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GARDENEB. 



[ December 18, 1878. 



single stem but branching near the ground, and these branches 

 again subdividing. 



Altogether tlie pleasure grounds cover fourteen or fifteen 

 acres, and though, aa will be seen from this statement, not 

 nearly so extensive as those at some other places which we 

 have had occasion to notice, they are agreeably and not pre- 

 tentiously laid out, and at various parts present us with tine 

 Poplars, Planes, Copper Beech, old Yews, and there are, 

 besides, numerous promising Conifers, but these are mostly 

 very young. The beds at the sides of a walk leading eastward 

 near the boundary of the pleasure grounds are planted as a 

 winter garden, and a number of Thujas, Deodars, Picea 

 Pinsapo, &c., are also here introduced. A slice has likewise 

 been taken out of the park, and planted with shrubs, but 



these are of no considerable size at present. We may also 

 mention that the old kitchen garden has been done away 

 with and turned into pleasure ground, and a new one formed, 

 connected by winding walks passing over rustic bridges across 

 the lake, at the head of which the waste water is carried away 

 to the Avon by waterfalls, one of which looks very pretty when 

 the water is dancing in the sunlight over its rubbly bed] 



In close connection with the pleasure grounds is the park ; 

 this is between two and three hundred acres in extent, and 

 ! has an undulating surface weU clothed with trees, chiefly Oaks 

 and Elms, with some Spruce and Scotch Firs, and Chestnuts. 

 From a spring in one part of it the mansion caube abundantly 

 supplied, in case of need, with water carried through pijjes by 

 gravitation, but the ordinary source of supply is from two 



springs in the pleasure grounds whence the water is elevated 

 by an hydraulic ram. 



The kitchen garden, as already remarked, is entirely new, 

 having been formed only three years ago; accordingly the 

 12-feet walls enclosing it, with one exception stone faced with 

 brick, and jirovided with a broad stone coping, are as yet far 

 from covered. The total extent, including the outside slips, 

 is about four acres. There are two defects in its aiTangement : 

 the one that there is a less extent of wall with a south aspect 

 than of any other exposure ; the other that the glass structures 

 run across the middle of the garden, and present their backs to 

 the visitor entering from the pleasure grounds. This could 

 be altered by erecting an entirely new range, which is much 

 wanted ; but the other defect could only bo remedied by 

 extending the garden from east to west, or by introducing a 

 cross wall running in the same direction. The soil is a light 

 hazel loam on a gravelly subsoil, which naturally is at no great 

 distance from the surface, but its depth has been increased 

 to between 2 and 2^ feet; all kitchen garden crops do well in 

 it, but Pears on the Quince stock, we are informed, do not 

 thrive, and from what we saw of it in another place we should 

 conclude that neither Apples nor Pears would reach any great 

 age, or prove very productive. The walks are edged with a 

 double row of rough pieces of stone, stuck in edgewise, and it 

 is intended to plant Irish Ivy between so as to form a neat 

 evergreen edging. 



The glass houses are neither numerous nor largo. The first 

 we entered was a vinery 35 feet long by 16 feet wide, the Vines 

 that had borne their crop laid down outside, and the brick bed 

 in the middle devoted to forcing Koses, especially the Tea- 



scented kinds as Safrano and Souvenir d'uu Ami. Among the 

 larger plants were several excellent specimens. Dracajuas, 

 which are required in great numbers for the decoration of the 

 house and other purposes, sweet-scented Geraniums, and 

 Gardenias were the principal of the other occupants. In the 

 stove, which is of about the same dimensions as the preceding 

 house, two plants of Stephnnotis floribunda are the most 

 noticeable feature, covering the whole roof, too densely indeed, 

 and as many as IGOO flowers have been cut from them in 

 one day. Beneath were Alocasias, Dieft'enbachias, Begonias, 

 both ornamental-leaved and those cultivated for their flowers. 

 Euphorbia jacquiniajflora and splendens two of the most 

 ornamental of winter-blooming plants. Palms, and some 

 Ferns. In the greenhouse again were two plants of Stephan- 

 otis, one of which was in flower and in fruit as well, but they 

 cause too much shade for the success of many plants. Chinese 

 Primulas, Cyclamens, Imantopbyllum miuiatum, Justicia pur- 

 purea, and some other subjects, however, contributed to keep up 

 a gay appearance. The Muscat house is flue-heated and that, 

 it would appear, not sufticieutly for the proper setting of that 

 variety. There is likewise a conservative house for Camellias 

 and Orange trees. In pits wo noticed Neapolitan Violets in 

 quantity (and Violets are also grown by the thoufaml out of 

 doors), Roses, Azrdeaa, Stephanotis, Lily of tlie Valley, and 

 Gardenias. The last are especial favourites, and a whole range 

 of pits is devoted to them alone. G. florida is the species 

 preferred, but G. Fortunei, radicans, and radicans major are 

 also favourites. Blooms are cut all the year round, and in 

 what numbers may bo judged from the following register of 

 the numbers cut in the present year, which Mr. Green, the 



