'209 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



r March IS, ISflS. 



K.UISK or Plant* (If. Jr. K. .—We cannot name pUaU from ueda. 

 In all caaca a flowsr sbonld bo ««nt. The ojMial sraenbouAe treatment will 

 suit jroor Swan KiTernci^d. iA Subtcriber^. — We cannot name a plant 

 from seeing three amall dried leares. (T. Jonet). — A^ain 70a moat be 



diiaspointed. The rirchid Sower wai qoite black, and there are screral 

 of toe Calanthee ao nearly alike that a perfect and freah bloom most be 

 aeen to justifjr identiflcation. The flowen ahonld be placed between 

 layers of damp moss and sent in a small box. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS in the Suburbs of London for the Week ending March 10th. 



POUITRY, BEE. and HOUSEHOLD CHRONICLE. 



A DAY AT LINTON PARK, KENT. 



The Seat op the Viscount Holuesdale, M.P. 



(CandvJed from paye 190.) 



Back we turn towards the hoMe, and then verge to the right, 

 and are in front o£ a group of most beautiful Spani.sh — black 

 and glossy ; as they proudly stand on the green turf, I ask, 

 Can any fowls be more beaatifol? A Spanish cock, if well- 

 bred, looks such a gentleman, and the hens such high-bom 

 dames. I look on and am enamoured. I am glad that the 

 General admires these noble birds. 



We next find Lady Holmesdale's pet Dorking hens, her 

 largest birds, the heroines of many and many a poultry show, 

 which, if they could write their travels, could tell of more admir- 

 ation expressed, and fervently expressed to them, than any ball- 

 room belle in the country — what attention had they not re- 

 ceived, what praise heard of their beautiful selves. " You will 

 see poultry to perfection at Linton Park." These words kept 

 sounding in my ears, just as a line of poetry will do sometimes, 

 and I kept giving an inaudible assent to their truth. 



Now we are bound for a distant part of the park, so south- 

 ward we stroll, now and then coming to a standstill on an oozy 

 bit of turf (Oh ! this wet weather), and being obliged to alter onr 

 course from a straight line to a curve. Admiring the scenery, 

 and falling more and more in love with Kent, I come to a wood 

 where more Dorkings are picking about — one an old cock, which 

 had evidently seen bis be^t days ; but Lady Holmesdale parti- 

 cularly wished me to see a young cock at a walk at one of the 

 afore-mentioned model cottages. So di^-ing into a thickish 

 wood, and climbing the park palling, I stand, or rather try to 

 stand, for 'tis a giddy height, and an uncertain foothold, and I 

 obtain a view of the bird across the road and in a cottage garden, 

 it being driven in sight, much to its disgust, by the cottager, 

 and with huge strides and wide wings escaping as soon as pos- 

 sible. This cock is, perhaps, the most promising bird which 

 her ladyship possesses ; but I owe him a grudge, as the sequel 

 will show. 



We now turn back, and in a direct line seek the house, 

 ascending the bill fat first a very gradual ascent), upon which 

 the mansion stands. No country house could have a finer 

 position, and few possess a finer frontage. And now I noticed 

 a peculiar ha.-;y yellow light hung upon the park, and gardens, 

 and house front, not unlike that often pictured by Turner, 

 particularly in his view of Petworth Park, now in the posses- 

 sion of Lord Leconfield at Petworth House. As we walk on 

 I admire very greatly a number of Silver-pencilled Hamburghs, 

 which, as far as my individual taste went, I preferred to any 

 poultry seen at Linton. Farther on. and now no yellow haze 

 to admire, but a sharp shower, and then a tremendous down- 

 fall of rain — a pitiless, pelting, hard-blowing storm. Oh. that 

 Dorking cock! 'tis his fault that his noble mistress will be 

 drenched, and we all late for luncheon (however, that is 

 notliing, for it is always the case when looking at poultry). 

 Sheltering, but vainly sheltering, by the trunk of a tree for a 

 minute or two, where, most considerately for us, quite near to 

 view were a number 0' Dorkings ; but in vain — we must nm 

 for it ; and the gallant General, who never ran before his 

 country's enemies, runs before the attack of Pluvius. Drip- 



ping and breathless, we reach at last the kindly shelter of the 



kon^e. Welcome secure !:helter, drying fire, and satisfying 



food, three blessings which soon pat all to rights. 



After luncheon I am shown the cups won at different times 



I by Lady Holmesdale's birds. They (the cups), are brought in 



i upon a large tray — a very large one, and present a very biw!- 



chanalian appearance. By the way, cotdd not poultrj- com- 



I mittees give sU%er prizes in some other than the cup form ? 



; What can be done with them ? Look at my triend Mr. Eod- 



I bard with his fortj' or fifty cups. They would be very suitable 



I if every fancier were like the most paternal gentleman of whom 



' the poet says — 



" Father of twenty children was he. and more than a hundred 

 Children's children rode on liia knee." 



Then each child and every favourite grandchild conld have 

 each a cup ; but we are not all, happily, so very patriarchal. 

 Lunch being over, and the weather again beautiful, the various 

 guests at Linton scatter in search of recreation or exercise. 

 My noble host most kindly proposed to devote himself to me 

 for the afternoon. 



First, I am shown a photograph of the garden in its summer 

 trim, and very lovely it must then be. Even now, owing to 

 Mr. Bobson's skill, it presents il am speaking of the bedding 

 portion), a picturesque appearance as seen from the windows, 

 for the large ted shows distinctly three colours — white, red, 

 and black ; and yet, though the effect is good, it is caused by 

 humble materials — cockle-shells, broken red brick, and cinders. 

 By these means the eye is pleased, and we are spared the cold- 

 looking bare mould. 



Before descending to the terrace I must say one word about 

 the interior of the house. The pubhc rooms are handsome 

 and well proportioned, and all opening into each other. The 

 effect of this, seen from end to end of the whole length of the 

 honse, is very prettj- and pleasing. In the dining-room hang 

 the portraits of her ladyship's ance.=tors, the Lord and Lady 

 Comwallises of other days — one that of a former Governor- 

 General of India, another in episcopal robes. (How often the 

 church is entwined with the peerage !) Then bright fair eyes 

 look down upon us^ — eyes long since clo.sed, and rosy lips and 

 rotmded arms that had admirers in their day, doubtless. Then 

 there was the full-length portrait of a youth, a mere bey, fair- 

 haired, and fresh-looking as a mountain daisy ; but his antique 

 garb told the tale of his being no more in the flesh. Oh, 

 triumph of the painter's art I The picture Uves and glows, 

 almost breathes, when the reality is but dust. I deUght in a 

 room full of family portraits. I could sit down and write a 

 good sermon there. I love the company of snch — they supply 

 thought. I like, too, the varied dress, telling of the time when 

 each one lived ; and perhaps, as here, there is an historic 

 I name and face, one of England's worthies, and I feel, " I, too, 

 ' speak your language ; I likewise am an English ma n." But 



while I am moraUsing his lordship is waiting. 

 ] .Just in passing Lady Holmesdale points out to me a Uttle 

 and most choicely filled conservatorj- of semicircular shape, at 

 I the one extreme of the suite of rooms, as the dining-room is at 

 . the other. 



I To the garden. Here in the soft air of Kent, and in a spot 

 ! most sheltered, I fotmd a very fine cork tree, finer and less 

 ! ragged-looking than the two at Goodwood, if my memory is 

 ' correct. Being an evergreen, and in snch a stormy snow- 

 I falling country as England, I was surprised to see it without 



