Ootobcr I, 1874. ] 



JODENAL OF HORTICULTOllE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



301 



of gronnc], with the most ample spaces of grass between, 

 looked exceedingly well at the time of my visit, being planted 

 with the best Tarieties of bedding plants, including some not 

 generally met with. Notable amongst the latter was apparently 

 a Chrysanthemum, which I was told was quite hardy and con- 

 tinuous-flowering; in height and habit it matched very well 

 with Geraniums, the colour being a clear white, and iu the 

 distance it looked well. To the westward of the mansion the 

 terrace was also continued, but in a different form, yet still 

 with an ample enclosure next the mansion ; while on the east 

 side, which led to the main part of the dressed grounds, a 

 large and showy conservatory had been erected. I use the 

 terms " large " and " showy " in contradistinction to good and 

 commodious, which I doubt much if it can be made to he 

 without such alterations as the architect would be apt to say 

 would mar his work. As it was, architectural tmbellishment 

 left no room for plants, and climbers would seem to be ignored 

 altogether. Perhaps, however, the necessity of preserving the 

 harmony of design between a conservatory adjoining a mansion 

 and the latter is so great that resort must be had to a profes- 

 sional artist. It would be well for all who contemplate erecting a 

 costly structure for the well-being of plants to consult some one 

 who understands that part of the decorative art better than 

 the man of bricks and mortar, for great mistakes are often 

 made in this matter. At the time of my visit, however, the 

 conservatory had barely passed out of the builder's hands, but 

 I remarked that at least four-fifths of its internal area was 

 occupied by paths neatly paved with fancy tiles, and the walls, 

 roof, and the fittings generally gave token that the builder 

 would not like these features to be concealed by climbers or 

 vegetation of any kind. 



Emerging from the conservatory we find ourselves by de- 

 grees carried beyond the range of the geometric and formal 

 stamp of things immediately surrounding the house, and 

 winding walks bring us amongst Pines and various shrubs 

 planted a long time ago, but very considerable a'terations and 

 additions have been made up to the present season. A mass 

 of shrubs was shown me that had only been planted last 

 autumn, and when we consider how very unfavourable the 

 spring had been to all new-planted subjects, their appearance 

 was highly creditable. Some good examples of Pines were to 

 be met with, and a Yew hedge of considerable age and size 

 was pointed out as having been planted only a year or two 

 ago, vet it had the appearance of having been there all its life. 

 The walk referred to led by the site of the old mansion, a part 

 of which is to be left for some special purpose, and as it does 

 not in any way intrude upon the present structure, it may very 

 properly remain. 



The kitchen garden is also in this direction. It is mostly 

 new, and with, perhaps, somewhat too steep a slope to the 

 south ; but to obviate the evils of this by the sun striking too 

 forcibly on the steeply sloping side, the rows of vegetables, 

 including Celery, had been wisely planted east and west, so as 

 to afford each other shade ; and although my visit was in ona 

 of the hottest days in July, and at a time when most crops 

 were languishing from want of water, everything was fresh 

 and doing well. The surroundings contained many tokens 

 that the presiding genius was well versed in botany, which, 

 however, will hardly create surprise, seeing the garden is 

 under the care of a Mr. Don, a name sufiicient in itself to 

 indicate that practical botany was sure to be attended to ; but 

 that a scientific knowledge of the character of plants is not 

 inimical to good cultivation was here shown, for everything 

 was in good order. A walk round revealed the fact that Mr. 

 Don is a great admirer of all that is good in shrubs. I 

 noticed several shmbs not usually met with in ordinary collec- 

 tions, and the same of herbaceous plants, of which there is 

 a good collection. Mr. Don was specially anxious to cultivate 

 Buch plants as produced flowers which when dried are orna- 

 mental in winter, and among the Everlastings there was a 

 good batch of Acroclinium roseum growing in a sort of raised 

 bed, luxuriant and fine, while, of course, the various kinds of 

 Helichrysum were duly represented. 



The term Heath as applied to this place has no more bear- 

 ing on its present appearance than the term "park" or 

 " fields " has to districts in London now closely packed with 

 streets. The old name only has been retained ; the place in 

 every sense is new, and looks out ou a park of rich pasture 

 land, sufficiently diversified with trees of healthy growth. So 

 far from its bordering on an extensive waste, it is questionable 

 if there is any part of the United Kingdom where land is of 

 more value than it is here ; and I may add that it would be 



difficult to find in any part of the country a place where the 

 farming is better. — J. Robson. 



FLOWERS FOB OUR BORDERS.— No. 41. 



ARNEBIA EOHIOIDES.— ECHICM-LIKE Abnebia. 

 This plant has been bandied about from one genus to an- 

 other by different botanical writers, until it has acquired a 

 somewhat lengthened list of synonyraes. By Linnsus it was 

 termed Lycopsis echioides, but in that genus the mouth of the 

 flower is closed by scales, and the nuts are hollowed at their 

 base ; by Bieberstein it was classed with the Alkanets, but these, 

 too, have the throat furnished with scales, as we have already 

 seen ; and by Fischer and Meyer it was placed among the 

 Lithospermums, under the name of L. erectum. It is with 



Fig S8. — Aruebia echioides. 



this genus that it has the greatest affinity, and there seems, 

 indeed, no good reason for removing it thence. The genus 

 Aruebia is doubtless sufficiently distinct from Lithospermum, 

 the two-lobed stigma of the latter being replaced in the former 

 by one with four lobes of a subglobose form. But it is singular 

 that this feature, which is almost the only point of difference 

 between the two genera, is absent iu the species under con- 

 sideration, its stigma being bifid. 



But under whatever genus the plant may eventually be 

 classed, there can be no doubt of its ornamental value as a 

 rock or even a border plant. It grows from a span to a foot 

 high, the stems being mostly simple, clothed with oblong hairy 

 foliage, and terminated by a head of handsome yellow flowers 

 spotted in the throat with purple. It has proved of difficult 

 cultivation, and has consequently become very rare ; it is, in 

 fact, doubtful if the plant now exists in more than one or 

 two private gardens in this country. Arnebia Griffithsii, or 

 " Flower of the Prophet," a pretty annual species, has proved 

 equally intractable, all attempts to retain it in cultivation 

 having failed. 



Arnebia echioides is a native of the mountains of the Caucasus, 

 and also of Armenia ; and was first introduced to the Royal 

 Gardens, Kew, by the late Dr. Fischer, of St. Petersburgh. It 

 is to be hoped that so good and desirable a plant may attract 

 the attention of collectors, and be again introduced to our 

 gardens. — {IV. Thompson's English Floii-er Garden, Bevised by 

 the Author.) 



DISPUTED DECISION AT A ROSE SHOW. 

 A SHORT time since a stand of Roses took the first prize, 

 theeshibitor of which, ignorant of Eose-showiug, had placed 



