March 33, 1877. 1 



JOURNAL OF HOBTICDLT0RE AND OOTTAQB QARDENEB. 



•215 



door exercise ; and it was here that he observed to some who 

 were reviling our climate and oxtoUing that of Italy, Spain, 

 and France, that he thonght that was the best climate where 

 we can be abroad in the air with pleasure the most days of the 

 year and the most hours of the day, and this ho thought could 

 be in England more than in any other country. 



King William III. and Queen Mary made great improvements, 

 both in the palace and the grounds. The old apartments were 

 pulled down and rebuilt as they now appear. The private 

 garden on the sonth side of the palace was sunk 10 feet to open 

 a view from the apartments to the river. It was surrounded 

 with a tall hedge to shelter from the winds such exotic 

 plants as were moved hither from the conservatories. There 

 are two basons oonstantly supplied with water for the supply 

 of the plants in dry weather. The plants were seen from the 

 windows of the royal apartment^, and in this part of the 

 garden the Queen took grtat dtligljt, and was so fond of tender 



exotic plants that she allowed a handsome salary to Dr. Plnke- 

 net for assisting to arrange and regulate her plants, also to 

 register all that were received. This pirt of the garden is taste- 

 fully laid out, and is the work of those two eminent gardeners, 

 London and Wise. 



On the north side of the Palace is the wilderness garden. 

 In the olden times it was the custom for a portion of the 

 pleasure grounds to be in as natural a state as possible, making 

 a strong contrast with the exact symmetry which everywhere 

 prevailed. In the Dutch geometrical garden, where every tree 

 was planted with exactness, evergreens were indispensable. 

 The Box, Holly, and the Yew, with two or three others, made 

 up the furniture of the garden ; the scissors and the shears 

 were the principal garden tools ; clipping and pinching were 

 scrupulously carried out ; cones and pyramids, and forms of 

 beasts and birds, rude ccpiea of works of art were made, and 

 of these, topiary works as they weio called, the remains may 



Fig 30.— Hampton couet pai.ace — sodth teerace walk 



now be seen, but most of the trees have grown into their 

 natural shape. 



Of this garden, which was considered one of the finest in 

 England, Horace Walpole recorded his great admiration ; those 

 fanciful figures appeared to him interesting and beautiful from 

 the variety of objects exhibited, and were pleasing to the eyes 

 of Addison and others. They admired the neatness and the 

 workmanship, and woald not have a single specimen destroyed. 



The taste for natural scent./ has much improved of late 

 years, and the specimens of ancient gardening are now es- 

 teemed as remains of antiquity. The most distinguished are 

 those grand avenues of Hampton Court and Windsor Castle. 

 They are noble examples worthy to be imitated, for there is 

 something grand and venerable about long green avenues and 

 broad carriage drives. No trouble or expense has been spared 

 to adorn the garden with the choicest flowers, and for the 

 lovers of trees there is no place more interesting. Trees that 

 were beautiful two hundred years ago are picturesque now, and 

 BQoh trees are the most esteemed ornaments in our modem 

 pleasure grounds. There are some very venerable specimens. 

 The Limes have attained a large size, many of them being 

 12 feet in circumference and 100 ftet high. The Elms are cou- 

 Bpicaous for size and beauty, measuring 25 feet in girth. The 

 Oaks are gigantio in size, one measuring over 40 feet in girth 

 near the ground. It divides into three large limbs of nearly 



equal size. The Horse Chestnut trees are favourites with the 

 Londoners, and their splendid foliage and fine spikes of flowers 

 entitle them to be considered one of our most ornamental trees, 

 and are a beautiful addition to the appearance of this place. 

 The artificial decorations, fountains, statues, and vases are in 

 harmony and pleasing contrast with the natural ornaments. 



The gardens are well managed, and last year the flower 

 garden was admitted to be equal to those in the London parks. 

 The "great Vine" is increasingly popular. It is in what is 

 known as the " private garden," and it is annually visited by 

 thousands of sight-eeers, to whom the two to three thousand 

 bunches of Grapes are something to be wondered at, and, 

 perhaps, coveted during the sultry days of summer. — N. Colk. 



JACOBEAN LILT. 

 Spreeelia (Amaiiyllis) formosissima was introduced as far 

 back as lt!58, and I believe was formerly more generally culti- 

 vated than it is now. Although treated as a stove and green- 

 houbc plant it is said to be perfectly hardy. I have not proved 

 this, but I believe my authority is reliable. The requirements 

 of the plants are few and simple. I will suppose the plants 

 are in bloom in April. The flower scape appears before the 

 leaves. As the leaves advance the plants should be attended 

 to with water. When the foliage taroa yellow water Bhoi;14 



