December 24, 1874. ] 



JOURNAL Of HORTICtJLTORE AND COTTAGE GABDEKER. 



557 



Individual beauty of each blossom is seen in addition to the 



feaeral effect. All kinds of Lilies are very suitable, especially 

 iilinm speciosum and its varieties. The foliage and flowers of 

 the chaste Trumpet Lily (Richardia irtbiopica) are unsurpassed 

 for the altar, and last a considerable time after being cut from 

 the plant. A good specimen of this plant, or two or three small 

 ones placed together, look remarkably well arranged on the font, 

 especially if the latter is in a prominent position. Both flowers 

 and foliage are of classic simplicity, and look remarkably well 

 along with statuary or architectural details. For harvest thanks- 

 givings a small sheaf of Wheat or Oats looks well and very sug- 

 gestive laid on the altar table; while tasteful groups of Corn, 

 Lilies, bright-coloured autumn leaves, and fresh green Feru 

 fronds look well on the pulpit or reading-desk. If the pulpit, 

 font, and pillars are of white stone, they look well draped with 

 the Virginian Creeper and Ivy, both of which should be allowed 

 to droop uurestrained in elegant festoons of bright glowing 

 crimson and green; while clusters of Apples, bouquets of "Wheat 

 and Oats, or bunches of Grapes, may be introduced here and 

 there with good effect. The silvery or pale rosy plumes of the 

 Pampas Grass (Gyneriuni argeuteum), and Arundo conspicua, 

 mixed with branches of the Purple Beech, or the feathery foliage 

 of the Sumach, when tinged with crimson in autumn, are very 

 effective ; and stems of Arundo donax or Japanese Maize may 

 also be used for variety. All these are bold and distinct, and 

 look well massed in a picturesque manner along with the glow- 

 ing scarlet flowers of the Scarborough Lily (Vallota), the 

 Guernsey Lily (Nerine sarniensis), or the delicate pink flowers 

 of the Belladonna (Amaryllis). Group all your foliage and 

 flowers as naturally as possible, and do not attempt anything in 

 the way of unmeaning designs. Ladies, as a rule, do these kinds 

 of ornamentation better than anyone else, and seldom fail to 

 make pleasing arrangements. It is as well to be careful in the 

 use of yellow flowers, as many of these have a glaring or gaudy 

 appearance, not in keeping with the quiet rich softness of colour- 

 ing and peaceful harmony of arrangement which should at all 

 times prevail within a sacred edifice." 



Let it not be supposed that our extract is from the most 

 valuable portion of the volume, for we recommend it to our 

 readers as a sound, practical guide on all the subjects men- 

 tioned in its title-page, and the illustrations are all aids to 

 amateurs not deeply versed in the culture and use of flowers. 



ANTS AND IXOKAS. 



Ik the plant stove here we have a great quantity of ants, 

 and not one is to be seen in any other part of the garden. We 

 have searched in vain to find their haunt that we might 

 destroy them, and have tried every remedy we know in the 

 stove, but cannot get clear of them. One of our specimen 

 Ixoras, I. Coleii, has been severely attacked by the ants com- 

 pletely barking one branch, which, of course, died, and it was 

 quickly perceived if something was not done the whole plant 

 would be lost. The ants had succeeded in making their haunt 

 in the earth of the pot, consequently the plant was taken out 

 of the pot, the ball reduced and repotted again, and plunged 

 in bottom heat, and wiU I think with care recover. The roots 

 were nearly ail destroyed and eaten by the ants. What would 

 be the most effectual remedy ? — S. J. A. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



The English Mechanic says that any variety of posts can be 

 rendered nearly indestructible by boring one or more holes, 

 larger or smaller, in the centre of the butt, the whole length if 

 desirable ; then fill with boUing coal tar and close the aperttire 

 with a long taper wedge well driven home, which will give 

 coal-taric pressure to force the antiseptic into the inner heart 

 pores of the mould, where the dormant seeds of decay will be 

 at once destroyed. 



We have been asked to tell our estimate of the Christ- 

 mas number issued by the Pictorial H'orW, and we cordially 

 respond that we think it one of the best and cheapest sixpenny- 

 worths we ever have seen. The pictures, " Family Diamonds " 

 and " Noah receiving the Dove," are worth the money. 



LATIMEES, 



THE SEAT OF LORD CHESHAM. 

 The gentle hiUs and dales of the eastern border of Bucking- 

 hamshire give to the district that pleasing appearance which 

 more bold features often fail to do. Most people admire a 

 piece of water, or a healthy fine-growing plantation all the 

 more, because by its side fields of waving com or promising 

 green crops adjoin it instead of rock and waste. Such is the 



district I am now about describing. Excellent roads and hedges 

 traversing a country that in but a very few instances indeed 

 presents hills too steep for the plough, while but a very small 

 portion of it can be called level. Chalk and gravel being the 

 general subsoil, the latter in some places being too plentiful 

 perhaps for healthy cultivation ; but on the whole the district 

 may be considered a very fertile one. It may be regarded as a 

 purely agricultural district, tolerably well, however, dotted 

 over with the mansions of those well-to-do in the world. 



The traveller on alighting at Watford from the North- 

 western Kailway will find another train to take him to Eick- 

 mansworth without his being able to notice anything remark- 

 able on his journey, excepting in the distance on both sides 

 trees in more than ordinary abundance, indicating that some 

 nobleman's or gentleman's mansion may be enclosed from 

 view ; but as we approach Eickmansworth a lesson may be 

 learned, which may very likely be copied with advantage in 

 some other county, of the mode that Watercresses are culti- 

 vated. Tho stream of water being divided and widened is 

 made to flow over a wide assemblage of beds, separated from 

 each other by elevated terraces of grass land. 



Alighting at the terminus of the short branch to Eickmans- 

 worth, we take the road leading from thence to Chesham, and 

 in travelling along meet with the features noted above. 

 Noticing at the same time that most of the dwellings we pass 

 are either timber or brick-built, the modern ones of the latter 

 material, while those claiming an existence in the sixteenth 

 and seventeenth centuries were of the timber-framed class, which 

 give such picturesque appearance to so many parts of the centre 

 of England ; but many of these show the effects of modern 

 innovation, the overhanging upper storey has often disap- 

 peared, and the ancient ornamental plastering has become 

 obliterated by repeated coats of whitewash. We pull up at 

 mine host's of the Bedford Arms, and by his direction make a 

 little detour of the village, which we are informed claims to be 

 the original home of the noble family of Bussell, and having 

 a little time on hand are introduced to the church, which con- 

 tains the memorials of so many members of that ducal house, 

 and cannot but admire the beautiful keeping and quiet repose 

 which pervades the whole, as well as the good taste which has 

 not overloaded such a sanctuary with undue embellishment to 

 the exclusion of becoming thought which such a place is likely 

 to caU forth; the fine situation of the church is also to be 

 admired. Proceeding onward, and descending the somewhat 

 steep hiU on which Chenies stands, we find ourselves skirting 

 a stream of water that flows down the valley, and pursuing 

 this some time we cross it, and find ourselves confronted with 

 one of the entrances to the place we set out to visit, and omit- 

 ting the principal entrance we pursue our journey until our 

 I guide brings us into near proximity of the gardens, and at no 

 I great distance from the mansion itself. 



I Latimers derives its name from the family to whom the 

 j manor and its surroundings were given by Edward III. From 

 : them it passed by either marriage or sale to the Nevilles, 

 Grevilles, Sandys, and Cavendishes, one of the last-named 

 I being its present proprietor. 



The mansion is on the side of an eminence facing a valley 

 through which the river Chess flows. The bank on the op- 

 posite side, as well as the park, as seen to the right and left, 

 is well wooded. Perhaps some would say too much so ; but 

 trees are always an agreeable object, and when it is taken into 

 consideration how few are planted now-a-days compared with 

 what are cut down, it is always pleasing on domains to see 

 venerable as well as healthy fine-looking trees abound. Another 

 feature at Latimers not less valuable, as adding to the features 

 of the place, is the presence of a fine sheet of water in the 

 valley alluded to. The widening, and I presume the damming- 

 up, of the river Chess, which has been skilfully done, accom- 

 plishes this ; and it is also at a convenient distance from the 

 mansion and dressed grounds, which, as has been already 

 described, occupy a suitable position on the side of the rising 

 ground. A series of terraces on the south side, on one of 

 which a neatly-arranged flower garden was a blaze of beauty, 

 is separated by a neat iron fence from the park on that side, 

 while a panel of considerable size on the west side of the 

 mansion was laid out as a geometric garden, with Box edgings 

 and gravel walks, containing the choicest bedding plants ; 

 while a sloping bank which formed its northern boundary, and 

 was something higher than the panel forming the main set of 

 beds, was planted with foliage plants, as Alternantheras , 

 Golden Feather, Eoheverias, and similar things, so as to form 

 a very pleasing feature, and formed an excellent frame to the 



