Maixh 0, 1876. J 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AMD COTTAGE GARDENER. 



r.»3 



the left the mansion, on the right a well-wooded and park -like 

 landscape, and in front the lake, with a bold island in the 

 centre and a large fleet of black and white Bwane. 



We now pass to the west side of the pleasure grounds, tra- 

 versing a winding walk with many tine specimen shrubs on 

 either side, terminating at the head of the lake. The flower 

 garden proper is on the south side of the mansion. Although 

 of limited dimensions it is exceedingly pietty when clothed in 

 its summer attire. Formerly it had in its centre a circular 

 bed elaborately embroidered with Box, which was considered 

 the gem of the place. It is now, however, replaced by a beau- 

 tifully designed terra ootta fountain (by I'ulham of Brox- 

 bonrne), surrounded by small flower beds, .\nother straight 

 broad walk extends from this point about 150 yards long, with 

 embankments on either side consisting of projecting mounds 



and sheltered recesses. The banks are planted with a choice 

 selection of shrubs ; the recesses, which are about 20 yards 

 apart, are planted alternately with Deodaras and Wellingtonias. 

 At the extreme end of this walk is an ornamental Gothic sum- 

 mer house fitted up with coloured glass windows by Firman 

 of Manchester. Durin-; the last six or seven years the trees 

 and shrubs have made such rapid pro^reES that it has been no 

 light task for the gardener to keep abreast af the work of thin- 

 ning and pruning. Many shrubs have had to be removed to 

 make room for those left, but by perseverance and hard work 

 all are now in admirable order, and no better kept shrubberies 

 and pleasure grounds are to be found than those of Harts- 

 holme ; their extent is about twenty acres. 



The kitchen garden is conveniently situated, cross walks 

 dividing it into four quarters with walks round the sides. The 





Fi'J. C^.—ilxiU ^LiOLnZ II.U-L. 



walls are covered withlApricots, Pears, Plums, and Cherries, 

 which annually carry heavy crops of fruit. Pears, Plums, 

 Apples, and Cherries are grown as espaliers by the sides of the 

 principal walks trained to strong, strained, galvanised wire. 

 Vegetables are also largely and well grown in outside (luartcrs 

 of the garden. Near to the mansion is erected a very fine 

 range of glass l.JO feet in length by l.S feet in width. This 

 range is divided into four compartments, consisting of a cou- 

 tervatory and two vineries and orchard house. The houses 

 are approached from the south terrace through a Gothic arch- 

 way and a small alcove intended for a fernery. On the end 

 wall of this alcove we noticed a fine plant of Cytisus race- 

 moaus covering a space fj feet square and profusely clothed 

 with yellow flowers. The Heliotrope is also employed as a 

 wall plant, and choice varieties of perpetual-flowering Carna- 

 tions 5 to feet in height were covered with bloom. The white 

 and crimson Clove, Mignonette, forced Roses, Lilies of the 

 Valley, and other plants, are largely and well grown for the 

 conservatory, which is occupied by a stage surrounded by a 

 path with latticed tables on the sides. The next house is the 

 early vinery. The Vines had evidently a robust constitution, 

 and the Grapes from Hartsholmo have gained a good local 

 reputation. The next compartment is a late vinery, and from 

 these two vineries alone excellent Grapes have been cut nine 

 months out of the twelve. The sorts grown are Black Ham- 

 burgh, Muscat Hamburgh, Muscat of Alexandria, Lady Downe'a 



1 Seedling,' Gros Guillaume, Foster's White Seedling, Mrs. Pinoe's 

 BlaclvMuBcat, and Black Alicante. Mr. AUis finds that to bring 

 out the true qualities of Alicante it must be grown in an early 

 house, the Grapes keeping better alter being cut than the same 

 kind grown in a late house, besides the quality being much 

 better. The Alicante ia not keeping quite so plump this sea- 

 son owing to the cold and wet summer and the crop being 

 somewhat heavy, while Lady Downo's which has smaller 

 bunches are at this date (February 24tu) fresh and plump ; but 

 in favourable seasons Alicante is the best late-keeper. Muscat 

 of Alexandria and Bowood Muscat have ripened and kept 

 very well in a late housn encouraged with a little fire heat and 

 plenty of air in the ripening season. Bowood Muscat is similar 

 to Muscat of Alexandria, but a hardier constitution. The front 

 walls of the vineries are built pn arches, and the Vines planted 

 inside with about G feet of Ijorder inside and about 14 feet wide 

 outside on a gravelly subsoil. The outside borders have a good 

 thick coating of farmyard manure early in the autumn sufli- 

 cient to keep out frost. The gardener is of opinion that the 

 rainfall has something to do with (Irape-growing. In 1874 the 

 total fall at Hartsholme was a little over 10 inches ; in 1875 it 

 was 22 inches and the Grapes better. He also thinks it is a 

 mistake to keep Vine borders very dry at any season of the 

 year where the subsoil is light. 



At the extreme end of the range is an orchard house, but 

 the trees are now planted out and heavier crops are produced 



