274 



JOTJENAL OF HOETICULTTIEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENER. 



[ October 6, 18CS. 



KEELE HALL. 



(Continued from page 237.) 



The centre-house or consei'vatory is 50 feet long, 25 feet 

 wide, and 15i feet in height, deeper ridge-and-furrow roof, 

 and glass all round except against the back wall. The 

 house was well stored with fine plants of Camellias, Aza- 

 leas, Oranges, &c., and the roof was rich with streamers of 

 Passion-Flowers, Tacsonias, and Bignonias, so as to give to 

 the whole great ease and naturalness of expression. The 

 entrance front of the eonsei-vatory was guarded by two very 

 large variegated American Aloes in dark tubs ; and just 

 behind them on two pedestals to the steps, stood two Humea 

 elegans, one on each side. These were in pots and were, 

 therefore, so far out of character, for nothing less than an 

 elegant vase ought to have stood in such a position. A 

 walk from this front leads to the park and its nice timber. 

 Looking back at the conservatory (fig. 1), the two Agaves, the 

 feathery Humeas behind them, and the flaunting streamers 

 and other vegetation inside, made it a pleasing picture. 



The vineries and the consei'vatory in this range were 

 slightly shaded during the summer by what Mr. HiU prefers 



to all other modes — as much patent driers is mixed with 

 linseed oil as to give the necessary shade, trying several 

 pieces of glass untE satisfied. It stops on all the summer. 

 A Uttle potash and soft soap in water wiU take it olf : liut 

 care must be taken not to touch the paint, or that will be 

 taken off likewise. 



As a lean-to at the back of this conservatory range is the 

 general show-house for flowers. It is 100 feet long, 11 J- 

 wide, 11 J high at back, and 8 high in front. The back air is 

 given through a chamber in the wall, and passes out through 

 the south Bide above the glass as already described. The 

 stages are formed of slate, supported by columns as elegant 

 as they are economical, being eai-thenware socket-pipes 

 1 foot in diameter, the socket forming the base of the 

 column. This house was very gay with Fuchsias, LilieB, 

 Geraniums, &c., and we can fancy its appearance in winter 

 with Camellias, bulbs, &c. ; and in spi-ing when the fine col- 

 lection of Azaleas is in bloom. Opposite the east end of 

 this house is a walk with a ribbon-border on each side lead- 



Fig. 1. 



ing up to a fine Peach-wall, which here forma the northern 

 boundary of the garden, over which some fine Chestnuts 

 and some beautifid Scotch Firs break the sky outUne. 



Proceeding stOl onwards in the same direction, we come 

 to the orchard and niu-sery gai-den, being at present a 

 regular repository for fruit, shrubs, Eoses, and flowers of all 

 kinds ; but which by the removal of the niu-sery part is to 

 be devoted chiefly to fruit, Eoses, and beds of flowers mostly 

 for cutting from, with massive beds of such useful under- 

 skrubs as Lavender, &e., of which large quantities are 

 wanted. The quantity of Cloves and Carnations, &c., here 

 grown would surprise even some regular dealers in these 



things, and all for cut flowers. This garden is divided near 

 the centre by a grass walk 8 feet vdie and 200 yaj-ds long, 

 with a ribbon-border on each side, and planted the same, 

 beginning at the gi-ass with Scarlet Geranium, then Caie's 

 yellow Calceolaria, which does well here, and brought all 

 the associations of om- old friend Mr. Caie and the grouping 

 in the flower gai-den at Bedford Lodge, Camden Hill, vividly 

 before us. We think this Calceolaria is named Kayi, but 

 that is a difierent thing, and was sent out by the late Mr. 

 Kay, of Finchley. The Calceolai-ia is backed by the Purple 

 Zelinda Dahlia, and that by Gladiolus, bac-ked again by a 

 good row of HoUyhocks. The Gladioli'were not then in 



