384 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ Ootulier 29, 1874. 



Norman, and from his oo-heiresses it passed to David Re- 

 naudin, in the reign of Henry IV., the Bonithons, and Heales. 

 .Jane Heale, by marriage, brought the estate to Samuel Kempe, 

 Esq., of Penryn, who commenced erecting the mansion, but 

 died in 1728 before it was completed. In 1719 Carclew was 

 purchased by one of the Lemon family, and descended to Sir 

 William Lemon, Bart., who died in 1824. He greatly im- 

 proved Carclew, and through one of his daughters it passed to 

 the present possessor. 



The approach to Carclew from the Perranwell station on 

 the Falmouth Branch of the West Cornwall Une of railway 

 is first through some two miles or more of excellent roads, 

 for I may say the best possible material for road-making 

 abounds in this county— granite, which is largely dug but 

 only a short way from where we now are, and its presence 

 in Buoh abundance tells importantly on the character of the 

 county, for it forms the ordinary building stone, more or less 

 mixed with a bastard variety found in connection with it, 



and easier to work ; but it is a common thing to see pillars of 

 granite set up as ordinary gate-posts to the fields, and stilea 

 and stepping-stones are invariably of this material. But it is 

 not the only rock which is met with about here ; railway cut- 

 tings and other excavations reveal quartz in greater or less 

 abundance, with slate of different degrees of hardness, but 

 much of it too soft for anything but for ordinary walls ; while 

 other substances having local names abound, the surface soil 

 in many instances not presenting the most fertile look ; but 

 aided by fertilisers, and, what is more, assisted by a climate 

 perhaps the most genial that can be found in so northern a 

 latitude, things attain a good growth, and such as do not 

 require the period of rest above alluded to are often kept in a 

 growing state all winter. This is especially the ease with 

 ; certain kinds of vegetables and other plants of a similar 

 growth ; and it is j ast the home for all winter and early spring- 

 tlowering shrubs, as well as for the whole family of Ferns, to 

 which the abundance of moisture is particularly welcome ; 



;. 111.— Cabclew, 



but we will now endeavour to describe the place and its sur- 

 roundings. 



The mansion of Carclew occupies a slightly elevated position 

 in a much-diversified park, the major part of which is pro- 

 fusely interspersed with trees. Its external appearance pre- 

 sents an aspect of durability such as few places of a like kind 

 can boast of, granite of the hardest being used in the building, 

 and the steps, pillars, and other objects are of the same durable 

 material. The carriage-road, after entering a neat and com- 

 modious lodge, makes a considerable dftonr to the left in order 

 to avoid the high ground that would intervene if a straight 

 line were attempted, '■"'' first passes through a considerable 

 distance of park plentiiully sprinkled with trees, more especi- 

 ally the eminences, which, being mostly clad with Oak, give an 

 impression in the far distance of some gigantic Fern occupying 

 the site, the tint being much the same ; and although the trees 

 are lari4e, mo=t nf them such as a shipbuilder would be glad to 

 get hold of, yet the tops are as even as if by some magical 

 hand they had been clipped to the same height from the sur- 

 face, thus showing, as my worthy cicerone informed me, that 

 the winds destroyed everything attempting a higher altitude 

 than its neighbour. I have mentioned Oaks as the prevailing 

 trees, but at Carclew there are some fine groups of splendid 



old Scotch Firs. Many of them would compate favourably 

 with much that is imported in point of size ; notably so in one 

 or more avenues by the side of the carriage-road of this, 

 perhaps, still the best of all our Conifers. But we proceed 

 along an excellent carriage-road composed , not of heterogeneous 

 gravel, but of pure quartz, broken into the required size alike 

 for comfort in walking and to allow wheel carriages ; in fact, 

 I may say the roads in Cornwall which came under my ob- 

 servation were all remarkably good, although I fear I cannot 

 say the same of its railways, or rather their management. 



But we are approaching Carclew, and passing another gate 

 enter a portion of the ground partly dressed and abounding 

 in fine trees, common and choice Rhododendrons, and the 

 many ct-ctetera which an enthusiastic owner planted at a 

 time when horticulture was not so fashionable a pursuit. All 

 honour, therefore, to Sir Charles Lemon, whose name as a 

 patron of gardening stood very high the first quarter of the 

 present century, and subsequently untU his death, when the 

 property fell into the possession of its present spirited pro- 

 prietor, who, in addition to being well versed in the knowledge 

 of the plants cultivated indoors, is likewise equally at home 

 with those outdoors, and neglects nothing likely to conduce to 

 their welfare, or to keep up the dignity of the place by judicious 



