Huota IB, 1B7S. 1 



JOUBNAIi OP HOKTICULTURB AND OOTTAQE QARDENBB. 



215 



and is an object of great interest to the inhabitants of the 

 snrronnding country. 



AdjoinicR the west side of the mansion is the small con- 

 servatory 70 feet long and 14 wide. It was all aglow with 

 winter-flowering Begonias, Azaleas, Deutzias, and a countless 

 host of other plants which usually flower at this period. Turn- 

 ing to the left and following a narrow walk we come to a largo 

 circular basin of water with a fountain in the centre. The 

 next object that attracts the admiration of the visitor is the 

 Eoae arbour 100 feet long. The framework is made of strong 

 iron and will stand the wear of many, generations. In the 

 summer season it must be a spot of unsurpassed beauty, for 

 there are Eoses of every shade and hue, and such as will please 

 all lovers of the queen of flowers. 



This arbour leads to the large conservatory (fig. 08), which 

 may be considered one of the chief features of Ringwood. It 



forms half of an octagon, and is 220 feet long. The centre 

 is also octagonal, surmounted by a dome supported by eight 

 pillars of the same form, and is of great external beauty. It 

 is entered by a door at each end and two others in the centre. 

 Under the dome is a large fountain of elaborate workmanship, 

 and surrounded by foliage and flowering plants a scene is pro- 

 duced of a pleasing character. At each end there is a stage 

 filled with such plants in bloom as Imantophyllum miniatum, 

 Eupatorinms, Heaths, Prunuses, Hyacinths, and other spring- 

 blooming plants. From the stORes to the large fountain is a 

 broad border U feet wide planted with Camellias and other 

 permanent plants. A path formed of Derbyshire flagstones 

 runs all round the conservatory 3 feet wide, and then a narrow 

 border for climbers, &o. In the centre border I observed some 

 Camellias 8 and 10 feet high and as much through. The 

 bright glossy appearance of the foliage bore testimony to their 



Fig. C8.— TUE CONSEKTAT -IIV AT EISGWOOD UiLL. 



robust health, as also did the magnificent flowers with which 

 the plants were laden. 



1 inquired of Mr. Prince, the head gardener, the cause of his 

 success with these gigantic Camellias, when he informed me 

 that the only stimulant employed was occasional doses of soot 

 water. Before watering the borders they were strewn all over 

 with a good coating of soot, which is washed down to the roots 

 with the water. Among the Camellias I noticed Queen of 

 England, Imbricata, Chandleri elegans. Lady Hume's Blush, 

 Princess of Prussia, Prince Albert, and Alba plena. In vacant 

 places interspersed with the Camellias are placed in pots 

 such plants as Myrtles, Cytisuses, Aloes, Tucoas, and Imanto- 

 phyllums. 



There are several Fuchsias planted in the border the plants 

 towering 10 or 12 feet high, and which considerably relieve the 

 monotony of the Camellias during the summer season when 

 the Fuchsias are bespangled with their long branches of pendant 

 blooms. The narrow border is planted chiefly with Lycopodium 

 denticulatum, which gives freshness and coolness to the long 

 promenade. At intervals of 8 feet climbers are planted in the 

 border, and trained up the trelUs, and suspended from the 

 rafters overhead. These comprise Passifloras, Loniceras, Cle- 

 matises, Escallonia macrantha, Fuchsias, Tacsonias, andMarC- 

 ohal Niel Eose. 



The terrace in front of the conservatory is 132 feet in length. 

 Many former flower beds have been turfed down, and only a 



few beds for flowers lemain A fine pair of Golden Yews at 

 the top of the steps leading to the flower garden arrest :he 

 attention of the visitor. Passing down these steps we come to 

 the flower garden proper. I saw it in September before the 

 autumn rains and cold nights had robbed it of its beauty ; and 

 the least compliment I can pay to Mr. Prince is, that the effect 

 produced was excellent. 



To the left of the flower garden is a small orchard of young 



Apple and Pear trees in excellent bearing condition. This is 



separated from the pleasure grounds by a thick belt of shrubs, 



, which answer the twofold purpose of a dividing screen and 



i affording shelter for the fruit trees from the easterly winds. 



Below this orchard is a small kitchen garden used expressly 



] for early vegetables and salads. On turning to the right I 



noticed another belt of shrubs, which forms the boundary on 



, the western side of the flower garden. At the bottom of this 



; shrubbery on an elevated site is a large standard Pear tree, 



Welbeck Bergamot, which never fails to bear an immense crop 



\ of fruit. I mention this fact to show the importance of plant- 



' ing on ground as high aa possible, where shelter is also afforded 



. by other trees from boisterous winds. 



Leaving the flower garden we arrive at a range of houses 

 ' 75 feet long in three compartments. The first is a Peach 

 I house with the trees planted in the front and trained to a 

 j trellis under the glass, the kinds being Eoyal George end Bar- 

 j rington Peaches, and Violette Hfitive Nectarine. The trees 



