Dtcember 1'?, :8?4. ] 



JOUBNAL OS" HORTIOULTtJBE AKD OOtTAGE GAEDENEB. 



5ii 



Diclcsouia, Pteria scaberula, and two fine Filmy Ferns, Todea 

 pelluoida and Trichomanes radicans. 



Around the mansion, by the drives, and through the dressed 

 grounds which intervene between the kitchen and flower gar- 

 den, are scattered many fine specimen trees and shrubs. Of 

 these I may particularly mention the fine row of Irish Yews, 

 and nice examples of Cupressus Lawsoniana, Wellingtonia 

 gigantea, Pinus Picea, Nordmanniana, Abies Donglaeii, and 

 Cryptomeria Lobbii. The kitchen and fruit gardens, which 

 coDtain somewhere about five Irish acres, are situated a con- 

 siderable distance from the residence and completely out of 

 view. As we approach these the style of gardening assumes, 

 and properly so, a transitional character, forming a natural 

 and connecting link between the stiff lines and gorgeous 

 colouring of the parterre we have just left, and the more 

 humble beauties of the other garden. The exterior of the 

 garden wall is clothed with the usual things employed for that 

 purpose — Koses, Magnolias, Wistarias, &o. A strip of ground 

 in front is kept in short grass planted with ornamental shrubs, 



through which are dotted a few beds very appropriately 

 planted. One in particular I admired extremely at once for 

 its simplicity and richness. It was a circular bed filled with 

 alternate plants of Variegated Maize and Chilian Beet. This 

 had quite a subtropical effect, and the Beet was the best 

 coloured I ever saw. Mr. Burns told me it was a peculiar 

 strain sent out by Messrs. Tait & Co., of Dublin, and al- 

 though the Beet is by no means a favourite of mine, I must 

 say that if it could be always got so well coloured, it could 

 be turned to much account in our gardens. Entering by 

 a fine ornamental gate the kitchen and fruit gardens, we 

 stand at once in front of those borders, which years ago when 

 ribboning was in its infancy and all the " rage," were the 

 wonder of this part of the world. They aire no longer planted 

 in that fashion, but they are, nevertheless, very effective. The 

 borders remain as formerly with the well-known hedge at the 

 back of each, and which threw into such glorious relief the 

 long lines of glowing colour. At present they are planted as 

 mixed borders, having a row of Hollyhocks at the back, with 



1. Iresine Liodeni. 



2. Coleas Verschaffeltii. 



Fig. 155. 



3. Cerastium tomeutosum. 



4, MeBembryanthemnm cordifolium. 



5. Lobelia pumila grandifiora. 



6. Altemanthern amabilis. 



a plant of Tait's Chilian Beet between each. The remainder 

 of the borders is filled with an immense variety of bedding 

 Geraniums, Violas, <l'c., most of them new and rare kinds. 

 Among them was a white-flowered variegated Geranium — 

 Victor Millet, Vesuvius, Mrs. Mappin ; and of Violas, some of 

 them very pretty, Blue King, The Tory, Advancer, Dickson's 

 Golden Gem, Vanguard, ifcc. Next the gate as we enter, and 

 formed by a bend in the hedge, are two small beds very beauti- 

 fully planted. At the back is Dell's Beet, then Golden Feather, 

 then Tropa:olum Cooperi,and in front Ageratum Tom Thumb. 

 The border is divided midway by the intersection of two walks, 

 with a dial occupying the central space. Here, again, by a 

 bend in the hedge, are formed two small curved beds, and 

 these are planted with several v«irieties of Bicolor and Bronze 

 Geraniums, at once for the purpose of ornament and com- 

 parison. Amongst the best of these I noted Prima Donna, 

 Sybil, Princess of Wales, Goldfinder, C. H. Wills, Waltham 

 Bronze, one of the best ; Keine Victoria, A-c. From this the 

 border continues in a straight line to the top of the garden, 

 where it is terminated by a neat structure, filled at the time 

 of my visit by a nice collection of Camellias. 



To say that fruits and vegetables were well and largely 

 grown would be superfluous, or that the cleanliness and keep- 

 ing were all that could be desired. 



The division containing the several ranges of houses is 

 separated by a wall from this, and entering at the top or 

 highest point the first we meet is a fine lean-to some IIG feet 

 long and 8 feet wide. This is devoted almost exclusively to 

 Peach and Nectarine culture, and though most of the fruit 

 was gone at the date of my visit, enough remained to show 

 that the crop must have been first-rate, whilst the health and 

 condition of the trees were all that could be desired. The 

 principal Peaches grown were Noblesse, Late Admirable, Wal- 

 burton Late Admirable, Bellegarde, Salway, Galande, Early 

 Mignonne, Acton Scott, Early Grosse Mignonne, and Elruge 

 Nectarine. A fine Brown Ischia Fig, carrying a fine crop, 

 occupies one end of the house, and a number of Tomatoes in 

 pots are grown in front. The Peaches and Nectarines are 

 grown on the back wall. 



The next range of lionses are late vineries. Here the crop 

 was very fine indeed, particularly Muscat Hamburgh, which is 

 frequently found so hard to manage. This is inarched on a 



