Ma; 13, 1869. ] 



JOUBNAL OF HORTIOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



310 



ASPECTS OF SPRING GARDENING. 



PRING gardening, as a development of modern 

 horticulture, needs no apologist. The cheer- 

 ful glow of life and beauty with which in the 

 opening days of spring it clothes the flower 

 garden, enlivening much that heretofore was 

 only dreary during the months of winter, and 

 by which it asserts both its utility and its 

 adaptability, is an appeal as irresistible as it 

 is appropriate and just. Hundreds of gardens 

 now gay with vari-coloured flowers and divers 

 tints of vegetation attest the charms that spring gardening 

 has for those tliat plan and realise it in all its pleasant 

 features, and with unwavering fidelity pursue it from year 

 to year. As spring succeeds spring, both the plan devised 

 and the agents emploj-ed are changed. A monotonous 

 sameness belongs no more to the spring than to the sum- 

 mer flower garden. 



There are, however, many more gardens the spring 

 aspect of whicli is one of barrenness and waste — in wliich 

 there is scarcely a gleam of flower-life to lend a particle of 

 relief to the prevailing desolation. It is to incite on the 

 part of the owners of these gardens some desire to emulate 

 what others are doing so well, and with such excellent 

 results, that these remarks are presented. What some can 

 do in a large degree, can be accomplished by others on a 

 smaller scale — there are certain general features capable 

 of imitation, even on the most unpretending form. 



With scarcely an exception, all the plants used for spring 

 gardening are hardy, and can be readily propagated. The 

 propagation is mainly done by redivision, and a few store 

 plants divided in the autumn give, in the case of small 

 gardens at least, ample material for the spring display. 

 Others, again, are raised from seeds. A small patch can 

 be sown in any out-of-the-way corner, and transplanted to 

 the blooming quarters at the proper time. These facts, so 

 simple in their character, tend to clear away many difti- 

 culties from the paths of those who may be contemplating 

 a trial of spring gardening, but doubt their ability to realise 

 good results. One small trial will not only impart courage, 

 but call into play a loving taste that will originate artistic 

 designs, and a tender regard tliat will see in many of the 

 common flowers of our gardens a new capability and a 

 fresh beauty hitherto undreamed-of. How trutlifully Barry 

 Cornwall sang in the exquisite imagery of our craft : — 

 "Nature never made 

 A heart all marble ; but in its tisaures sows 

 The wild flower Love, from whose rich seeds spring forth 

 A world of mercies and sweet charities." 



Our first aspect shall be taken from the flower garden 

 at Glen Eyre, Southampton, the residence of Mrs. Eyre 

 Crabbe, a generous patroness of horticultiu'e. Here tlie 

 prime feature of the spring decoration is in the form of bulbs. 

 Hyacinths being largely used. The very situation of this 

 place — its contiguity to the sea, and the fact that it is 

 embedded as it were in a sheltered wood, added to a genial 

 climate nearly approaching that of Devonshire — are im- 

 portant aids in the development of the spring gardening 



No. 424.— Vol. XVI., New Seeieb. 



SO thoroughly carried out by the gardener. Mr. Thomas 

 Stewart. The dwelling-house occupies a considerable ele- 

 vation, from which is a somewhat abrupt descent by means 

 of a series of successional terrace gardens leading to a 

 pleasant valley below, bounded on the one side by ascend- 

 ing banks of Rhododendrons, and on the other by a Fir 

 plantation, wherein the nightingale finds a home, and at 

 the feet of which 



" The fresh winds make love to flowers." 

 On these terraces is arranged the bright spring display 

 Mr. Stewart so pleasantly makes. 



Foremost for their splendid effect and their rich colonr- 

 ing, stood two beds of Hyacinths in the form of an elongated 

 letter S- Each bed was 80 feet in length, and was filled 

 with three rows of Hyacinths arranged in colours, the red 

 Hyacinths forming the centre serpentine line. The massive 

 proportions of some of the spikes of flower was something 

 astonishing; there was such a richness of hue in the 

 flowers that they might well have excited the envy of a 

 Cutbush or a Paul. Charles Dickens, Baron van Tuyll. 

 and Bleu Mourant, single blues, were particularly fine; so 

 was Tempel van Apollo, a fine flesh-coloured variety. 

 Each of these beds was edged with a mottled crimson 

 double Daisy, much grown in these parts, and which in 

 any locality is one of the first to flower. These two beds 

 occupied the whole of one terrace garden, with the excep- 

 tion of two circular beds at each extremity, north and 

 south. One of these beds was filled with White Potte- 

 bakker, early single Tulip, and carpeted with the blue 

 Myosotis sylvatica ; the other with a Rosa Mundi early 

 single Tulip, having white flowers, tipped with rose, and 

 this bed was carpeted with Aubrietia purpurea. 



On the east side of tliis garden was a sloping bank, some 

 8 feet in depth, down which this garden is reached by a 

 flight of steps; and on the west side there is a narrow 

 border running the length of the terrace garden similarly 

 to the sloping bank. Each terrace garden has a low hedge 

 of Berberia Darwinii, both on the north and on the south, 

 this was in full bloom, and was in consequence very gay. 

 The groundwork of the sloping banks is formed of Ivies, 

 from the midst of which rise low bushes of Berberis Dar- 

 winii, Helianthemums, hardy Ericas, and other flowering 

 shrubs, yielding a succession of bloom. On the otlier side 

 the narrow border was aglow with large clumps of the 

 double white Primrose, Phloxes frondosa and Nelsoni. 

 Polyanthus Narcissi, &c. 



Ascending to the terrace garden above, the arrangement 

 of beds was found to be very different in design. This 

 garden was composed of two divisions, each identical in 

 design with the other. Here Hyacinths were the main 

 feature, but mingled in colours, and edged with strong- 

 growujg. showy, fancy Pansies, and in a few instances with 

 yellow or dark Pansies. One bed was edged with what 

 was termed Silene compacta, but it appeared to be useless 

 for spring work, as there was no sign of its flowering. 

 There were also beds of Tulips, both mixed as it regards 

 double and single flowers, and also in colours. Of the 

 latter. Golden Pi-ince early single Tulip was very fine 

 and showy. There were also two good beds of Polyanthus 



No. 1016.- Vol. XLI., Old Seeies. 



