33i 



JOTJBNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



M.ch rs I87e. 



One correspondent says Libonias will not bear forcing, bnt 

 from tbat I beg to difttr, as you may have them in bloom at 

 any time during winter and spring, by placing them in gentle 

 heat and syringing them twice a- day. 



One important matter I must not omit, and that is, the 

 lanta must be securely staked and tied during the summer, 

 or you may find half of them snapped off close to the collar 

 after a strong wind. 



Can anyone give the history of this plant ? The first time 

 I saw it was in Switzerland in 18G5, It was said to have been 

 introduced into German gardens only a short time before. As 

 to its further pedigree I could learn nothing. At all events 

 it is a plant not yet sufficiently known, for it ought to be grown 

 even by those who have but the smallest glass accommodation. 

 — A. W., Ileigliington, Lincoln. 



[Libonia floribunda was portraitcd and described in La 

 Belgique Horticole for 1864. It is there stated to be found in 

 the gardens of Germany, and that it is a native of Brazil. It 

 belongs to the natural order Acanthacese. — Ens.] 



OUR BORDER FLOWERS-FUMEWORTS. 



Tnis is a family of spring-blooming plants possessing many 

 features that attract notice. Fumeworts succeed in most places 

 with a small share of attention. One of their chief require- 

 ments is that the novice should keep his spade from among 

 them when the border is being dug over. They like a sandy 

 loam mixed with a little peat and well-decomposed dung or 

 vegetable matter. They are at home in a moderately dry 

 situation. Some of them may be increased by seed sown as 

 soon as ripe, and all may be increased by division when growth 

 has commenced. There are herbaceous and tuberous-rooted 

 kinds as well as annual and biennial kinds. Corydalis glauca 

 is a splendid annual sent out by the Horticultural Society, but 

 I have not seen it for many years. 



Corydalis claviculata is a charming plant as seen in its 

 native localities, in boggy upland districts. C. bulboaa, as 

 seen in early spring with its pleasing purplish flowers, ia very 

 attractive. C. Intea, often met with on old walls flowering the 

 summer through, is a pretty border plant. C. nobilia ia one of 

 the best of the race. Its beautiful leaves and showy heads of 

 flowers render it a charming plant for the rockery and border. 

 It should be in every garden. C. Hallerii is another fine 

 variety of great merit. C. lutea, yellow, and C. cava lutea 

 alba, are real gems for rockery or border, and may be turned 

 to good account for pot culture under glass. Corydalis eximia 

 is a useful border plant, but some call it Dielytra eximia. The 

 whole family are worthy of far more attention than they are 

 now receiving. — Vebitas. 



DENBIES, 



THE SEAT OF MRS. CUBITT. 



Famous alike for its commanding position, for the extensive 

 glass structures in its gardens, for its good gardening, and as 

 having been the practice ground for many years of a fine old 

 English gardener, Mr. Drewitt, is Denbies. At an altitude of 

 800 feet above the sea level, and crowning a bold eminence in 

 one of the most beautiful districts in England, the mansion 

 is situated. From the crest of the noble hill which this seat 

 adorns the prospect is extensive, rich, and varied. The scenery 

 has not inaptly been compared to that of Italy ; the bold undu- 

 lations of the district, the rich woods, the winding streams, 

 and picturesque resideiices, forming a picture of rural beauty 

 unusually complete and imposing. 



Denbies is about two miles north-west of the town of Dorking, 

 and is approached by a sweeping road taken occasionally 

 through deep cuttings to make the ascent more easy as it skirts 

 the side of the hill. Within the precincts of the estate are 

 ornamental plantations, the ground boldly rieing to the left, 

 occasional glimpses of the mansion being obtained between the 

 trees — to the right being deep dells and the widely extending 

 valley in which the town of Dorking nestles. On reaching 

 the summit of the hill the visitor is compelled to pause and 

 admire the splendid landscape which the position reveals. 

 Towards the south is Leith Hill, its romantic summit crowned 

 with a lofty tower. Towards the east is the town, occupying 

 the angle of two valleys and surrounded by beautiful hills. 

 The town is backed by the grounds of Bury Hill and the luxu- 

 riously embellished seat of Mr. Hope at Deepdene. Beech- 

 worth Castle and Box Hill are also within the line of vision. 

 The windings of the river Mole, Satford Bridge, Mickleham, 



and the woods of Norbury Park on a ridge of hills, terminate 

 the prospect on the north ; and on the north-west are situated 

 PoUesden, formerly the residence of Mr. R. B. Sheridan, and 

 Horseley Place. Such is the commanding position of Denbies. 



The mansion was originally built by Jonathan Tyers, Esq., 

 the celebrated proprietor of Vauxhall Gardens. He resided 

 here, and all his garden plans, it is said, were intended as con. 

 trasts to the gaiety at Vauxhall. The principal plot was a 

 wood of eight acres, which he named " II Penseroso," with 

 dismal alcoves, a valley called " The Shadow of Death," and 

 other inappropriate arrangements. These were removed by 

 the Hon. Peter King, who purchased the estate in 1767 ; and 

 it has subsequently belonged to the Whytes in 1781, and to 

 the Denisons in 1787, from whom it passed to the wealthy and 

 influential Cubitt family, who have effected great additions 

 and improvements in the mansion and grounds. On the 

 south-west side of the mansion has been raised a considerable 

 plantation, through which are formed walks and avenues — 

 scenes of sylvan beauty ; the trees also afford necessary shelter 

 to the gardens and residence. On the northern side of this 

 plantation the pleasure grounds are arranged, the wood being 

 skirted by shrubs, and at intervals rockeries and Ferns. Then 

 comes a long and somewhat narrow expanse of lawn dotted 

 with Conifers and flower beds ; at the extremity of the grounds 

 being a large, ornamental, and substantially built church, 

 erected by Mr. Cubitt for the dwellers on the estate and sur- 

 rounding neighbourhood. 



On the lawn are several good Conifers. More than one 

 specimen of Cryptomeria japonica is to be seen 30 feet in 

 height and 12 feet in diameter at the base. Pinus Morinda 

 (Smithiana) also approaches the same dimensions and is in 

 perfect health. Pinuses Douglassii, pinsapo, cephalonica, and 

 other ornamental Conifers are in a healthy state, and being 

 thinly planted on the lawn are very effective. As affording 

 relief to the dark foliage of the evergreens in summer are beds 

 of variegated Maples, having as a groundwork dwarf plants of 

 the purple Hazel. A few flower beds are also interspersed on 

 the lawn, not, however, occupied with bedding plants, but are 

 more appropriately devoted to Yuccas, Hydrangeas, Phloxes, 

 &c. The flower garden proper is on the terrace surrounding 

 the mansion. This is only of limited extent, the beds being 

 now occupied with spring-flowering plants, and in the summer 

 are gay with Clematises, A'O. 



Looking down from the terrace, and between that and the 

 lower windows of the mansion, are some remarkably fine spe- 

 cimens of Aucubas in tubs. These are in peifect health and 

 colour. As area plants in town or country no shrubs are 

 more suitable than Aucubas. Contiguous to the mansion and 

 skirting the plantation are also many fine specimens of these 

 shrubs, most of them being richly laden with scarlet berries. 

 Male plants have been planted, from which the pollen has 

 been distributed principally in a natural manner, but occasion- 

 ally by shaking a few branches over the shrubs when in flower ; 

 and the result is most satisfactory, the crop of berries being 

 unusually fine, imparting a rich appearance to the shrubs. 

 These Aucubas are exceedingly attractive and worthy of special 

 notice. Denbies, however, is not so remarkable for the pictur- 

 esque arrangement of its pleasure grounds as for the remark- 

 able range of glass, commencing at the mansion and extending 

 for a distance of 1230 feet, or within 30 yards of a quarter of a 

 mile. 



Wo will now enter the conservatory and traverse this lengthy 

 yet spacious crystal promenade, noting briefly, ch passant, the 

 size of, and prominent olanta in, the several compartments. 

 The conservatory whicn adjoins the mansion is 60 feet in 

 length, 30 feet in width, and about 30 feet high. The centre 

 consists of a large bed with a surrounding walk, and a stage 

 next the glass containing flowering plants in pots. Noticeable 

 amongst the climbers are Bignonia Chica, Stauntonialatifolia, 

 Tacsonia Van-Volxemi, and Colea scandeus. On the back wall 

 are scarlet Geraniums, also Abutilons Boulo deNeige and Thomp- 

 fonii. Planted in the border are Araucariaexcelsa, TreeFurns, 

 Camellias, Grevillia robusta, Brugmaneiasanguinea, very fine; 

 Acacias, Green Dracienap, Rhododendrons, and other plants. 

 In pots are Azaleas, Epacriaes, Mignonette, standard Sola- 

 nums, very effective ; Salvia Hceiii, Cinerarias, bulbs, Ac, the 

 structure being exceedingly gay, and the plants healthy and 

 clean. From the conservatory we pass into corridor No. 1. 



This is 70 feet long by IC feet wide (a porticu of it being 

 shown in the engraving accompanying these notes). On the 

 left is a narrow stage; on the right a wide border, extending 

 from the path to the back wall. Planted in the border, and 



