Allguot 13, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTIODLTUEE AND COTTAGE GAKDENEB. 



14S 



trees nodding to their fall, we reach the vale, then crossing 

 the little bridge which spans the stream, we are in Derbyshire, 

 and pause to admire the scene around us. Here nature and 

 art seem to vie with each other to render the place attractive. 

 On the side along which the road winds the rocks tower up 

 terrace above terrace, their sides covered with shrubs of all 

 kinds ; here and there a break occurs, and the natural slope 

 of the wall side is preserved, and with a steep, though gradual, 

 incline it rises till the sky peeps through the trees high over- 

 bead. On the other side, close under which the stream, here 

 widened into a broad river, glides along, the banks clothed 

 in all the richness of forest verdure, interspersed with flower- 

 ing bushes, as Roses, Mountain Ash, &c., rises one mass of 

 foliage, which, reflected in the calm stream beneath, forms a 

 picture of surpassing beauty. This water has been utilised for 

 manufacturing purposes, and two spinning mills have been 

 erected, one at the centre, the other at the farther end. Far 

 from destroying the natural beauty of the vale, these erections 

 and their surroundings have virtually increased it. Taste- 

 fully designed, massive in structure, and as far as possible in 

 keeping with the surrounding scenery, they break the con- 

 tinuity of foliage, and give a charm to the natural features of 

 the landscape. The stream, once a little rivulet meandering, 

 hidden between deep banks, forms first a lake-like reservoir 

 with its banks fringed with shrubs, then, as it glides along, a 

 calm broad stream. 



Pursuing our journey wo enter the gardens near the gardener's 

 cottage and flower garden, which is a picture of beauty and an 

 index to what we may expect within. From the picture that is 

 here presented we are at once convinced that Mr. Quintin Read, 

 the superintendent, is a master of his profession. Leaving this 

 fairy spot, we pass by a small shrubbery, and a nice rockery 

 clothed with alpine plants, into what is called the old kitchen 

 garden ; for as the owner's family has increased the kitchen 

 garden has been extended to meet the demand. Along the 

 centre of this garden is a ribbon border on the right, and on 

 the left as far as a cross walk ; and the remaining length is a 

 mixed border, containing choice Phloxes, Pentstemons, Del- 

 phiniums, Gladioluses, and a batch of Geraniums put out for 

 trial. The ribbon border on the right was planted first with 

 a row of Sempervivum californicum ; second, Mesembryanthe- 

 mum cordifolium variegatum ; third, Viola Perfection ; fourth, 

 yellow Pausies ; fifth. Verbena Purple King ; sixth. Geranium 

 Miss Kingsbury ; seventh. Geranium Bayard. "The ribbon 

 border on the opposite side of the wi^lk was the same, except 

 the first and second row, which were Echeveria secunda and 

 Antennaria tomentosa, all very simple and very effective. 



Turning into the early vinery we found there an excellent crop 

 of Grapes ; we counted on one Black Hamburgh Vino forty-six 

 bunches. All the Vines bore a heavy crop ; none of the bunches 

 would weigh less than 1 lb., and many of them from 2 to 1 lbs. ; 

 the berries fine, and the colour good. Beneath this heavy 

 crop of Grapes there was a large collection of Begonias, Ferns, 

 and other plants. Among the latter we noticed a large speci- 

 men of Adiantum farleyeuse, also Dicksonia antarctica, Adi- 

 antum coucinnum latum, and many of the commoner sorts, all 

 in a healthy condition. The Grapes in the next house had 

 not begun to colour, and here every available spot was taken- 

 up by plants and made the most of. Azaleas that had bloomed 

 in the conservatory had been brought here to make their 

 growth, and many that had been forced early and had com- 

 pleted their growth were either turned out of doors or put in 

 safe quarters in cold pits. 



From the vinery we passed into a Peach house with one sot 

 of trees trained on the back wall, and another set on an iron 

 trellis in front. The trees were in very good health and carry- 

 ing a heavy crop of fruit. In a little adjacent span-roofed 

 house one side was devoted to Cucumbers, and the other to a 

 large Allamanda Schottii. In this house for several years 

 Eollisson's Telegraph Cucumber and Pearson's Long Gun have 

 been planted side by side, and both are so good that it is diffi- 

 cult to tell which is the better. Cut flowers are in great 

 demand, and the Allamanda is one of the most useful plants 

 for the purpose. In adjoining pits and frames were large 

 quantities of Epacrises, Heaths, Zonal Geraniums, Balsams, 

 and other useful greenhouse plants, and in shady situations 

 frames were filled with Primulas, Cinerarias, &c. 



Passing-out of this garden we enter the kitchen garden 

 proper, and here neatness and good order prevailed on every 

 hand. Peas, Potatoes, Celery, Lettuces, and other vegetables 

 were in luxuriant health, and scarcely bore any traces of the 

 long.oontinued drought. This is to be traced in a great mea- 



sure to the practice of deep digging and subsequent surface- 

 stirring. We observed that there was not an inch of ground 

 unoccupied, and in odd corners there were hundreds of hardy 

 spring flowers to be brought to the beds in the flower garden 

 when the glory of the present plants shall have passed away. 



Retracing our steps we again reach the carriage drive, and 

 passing through a small gate we find ourselves on a broad 

 terrace walk in front of the mansion (see fig. 41). It is built 

 in the Italian style of architecture, and commands most 

 pleasant views. The internal arrangements are superb, and 

 the adornments exquisite. Turning round to the right there 

 is a small but neat flower garden, surrounded by an orna- 

 mental balustrading. Beyond is the extensive lake. The lake 

 is fringed with trees and shrubs, and has an irregular outline, 

 so essential in water scenery. Immediately in front of us is 

 the geometric flower garden. There is a circle in the centre 

 about 7 feet iu diameter, surrounded by onother circle of the 

 same width divided into four beds. At four angles are four 

 other circles of the same size as that in the centre, and be- 

 tween these are other beds with their ends concave, to suit the 

 circles on each side. At each end are long narrow beds, which 

 seem to enclose the whole ; these are about 5 feet wide bounded 

 by curved lines to match the outlines of the adjacent beds. 

 All the beds have raised edgings either margined with Eche- 

 verias or Sempervivums. The centre bed was margined with 

 Echeveria secunda, and edged with Dactylis glomerata va- 

 riegata, and Lobelia Crystal Palace compacta, within which is 

 a band of Guaphalium lanatum, and the centre is filled with 

 Cieranium Amaranth. Then two of the four beds surrounding 

 the centre are margined with Echeveria secunda, and edged 

 with Golden Feather Pyrethrum ; two diamonds are formed in 

 the centre of each bed with Golden Feather Pyrethrum, &nd 

 filled with Coleus Verschaffelti, and the groundwork between 

 the diamond-shaped beds and the Golden Feather edging, was 

 Alternauthera amabilis. The other match beds were margined 

 with Echeveria secunda, and had a broad edging of Alternau- 

 thera magnifioa. Two diamonds formed in the centre of each 

 bed were of Coleus Verschaffelti, and filled iu with Guaphalium 

 lanatum, and the groundwork of the bed Mesembryauthemum 

 cordifolium variegatum. The four circular beds at the four 

 angles were all margined with Echeveria secunda, and edged 

 with Mesembryauthemum cordifolium variegatum, within 

 which was a band of Ircsine Lindeni; and the centre of two of 

 them was filled with Geranium Miss Kingsbury, mixed with 

 Lobelia speciosa, and the other two were Geranium Mrs. 

 Pollock, and Viola Perfection, plant for plant. The two beds 

 between the four circles were margined with Sempervivum 

 californicum, and edged with blue Lobelia, then a band of 

 Creed's Seedling Geranium, and the centre of one filled with 

 Geranium Douglas Pearson, and that of the other with theRev. 

 T. F. Fenn. The long narrow beds at each end were margined 

 with Sempervivum caUfornicum, and edged with Cerastium to- 

 mentosum and blue Lobelia, plant for plant, within which was 

 a baud of Golden Feather Pyrethrum, and then another inner 

 circle of Iresine Liudeni, and the centre of one was filled with 

 Geranium Amy Hogg, and the other Geranium Arthur Pearson. 

 Every plant in this arrangement was in perfect health, and 

 notwithstanding the adverse season, each had filled up its 

 allotted space. 



Although this flower garden is not on a large scale, yet many 

 thousands of plants had been used iu its embellishment, and 

 its beauties must be seen to be appreciated. By the side of 

 the terrace walk leading to the conservatory, and parallel with 

 the flower garden, was a row of vases, or instead of vases there 

 were short lengths of trees with the middle scooped out, and 

 placed on end to give the appearance of rustic vases, and these 

 were planted round with dwarf Yews kept closely cut ; the 

 dark green foliage of the Yews, and the bright magenta, pink, 

 and crimson of the Geraniums with which they were filled, 

 afforded a pleasing contrast. 



We now pass on to the conservatory, and here a dazzling 

 blaze of floral beauty presented itself to the eye. The stage 

 and every available place were filled with such flourishing 

 plants as are found in the best-regulated places at this season 

 of the year. Conspicuous were Pelargoniums, both of the 

 Zonal and Greenhouse section, and in the former we observed 

 some splendid varieties raised and sent out by Mr. Pearson, of 

 Chilwell. We may mention as being really first-class F. Du- 

 rand, Mrs. F. Burnaby, Amy Eobsart, Col. Holden, Rev. C. P. 

 Peach, Mrs. Musters, Lady L. Egerton, Mrs. Ffytch, andmany 

 others too numerous to mention. Up the pillars were trained 

 Plumbagos ; and from the roof, all in luxuriant health and 



