Msy i, 1876. ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTIOULTDBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



353 



Boheme. It was afterwards pnrohased by a late Duohess of 

 Rutland, passing to General Manners, and subsequently to 

 Lady Mary Hamilton. The mansion, which is epacione and 

 substantial, is pleasantly embosomed amongst and surrounded 

 by fine trees, and overlooks extensive prospects both westward 

 over the heaths and eastward over the fertile fen district. The 

 gardens are tolerably extensive, and although principally 

 devoted to culinary products, they are not devoid of orna- 

 mental features. The pleasure grounds contain fine timber 

 trees, and evergreens, especially Yews, grow with great lux- 

 uriance. There is also some statuary, which is conspicuous 

 by the relief afforded by the dark background of foliage ; and 

 one object in stone — somewhat inconspicuous, being almost 

 hidden by the evergreens, but one which most visitors stop to 

 examine — a Chinese god, the god of destruction, but harmless 

 enough in his " leafy bower." 



Ob the lawn are some very good Conifers, which, though 

 not closely planted, are sufficiently so to form a sheltering 



boundary to the flower garden and the pleasant walks sur- 

 rounding the mansion. There are some excellent specimens 

 of Finns oembra 30 feet high which Mr. Lumeden planted 

 from 6-inch pots in 1852, also healthy examples of P. pinsapo 

 of the same age and size, and several large Cedars and 

 Junipers. Pinus Morinda received injury by late frosts, and 

 from the same cause Deodars cannot flourieh. There are some 

 large Tulip Trees, a good epeoimeu of the Lucombe Oak, and 

 a weeping Camperdown Elm. 



Surrounded by lawns and trees of the character named we 

 tind the flower garden, an enclosure of considerable extent, 

 and in which the " ancient and modern " system of decora- 

 tion is well blended and carried out. From the mansion, 

 which is elevated on a stone terrace, a flight of steps descend 

 to the walk which intersects the enclosure. On each side of 

 this walk is a chain of flower beds, also at intervals good-sized 

 specimens of Thuja aurea. The beds near the walk are 

 "bedded-out" with the usual spring and summer bedding 



ITig. 100. — The floweh garden at blo.xjiolm hall. 



plants. In the two divisions formed by the walk are very 

 large beds with statuary in the centre, around which are planted 

 climbing Eases trained in the form of festoons. These beds 

 are planted with Hollyhocks and DahUas, and these plants in 

 large masses have a flne effect in the autumn from the windows 

 of the mansion. In other beds are shrubs and large clumps 

 of herbaceous plants. Thus the marginal beds are bedded-out 

 annually, the beds more distant containing plants of a more 

 bold and permanent character. As Bloxholm is regarded by 

 its owners principally as a resting-place in their journejinga 

 from Scotland to London in spring, and back again in antumn, 

 Mr. Lumsden endeavours to have the garden gay at these 

 periods, and the endeavours of a gardener so able and diligent 

 have but one result — success. This garden, both in spring 

 and autumn, is attractive without being sensational, its ar- 

 rangement and the mixed mode of decoration blending admir- 

 ably, and producing an effect bright, varied, and enjoyable. 

 The engraving represents a view taken croeswise of the flower 

 garden. 



A short distance from the mansion is a sunken bowling 

 Ereen of about an acre in extent and surrounded by evergreens, 

 this being occasionally enjoyed by the tenantry and their 

 friends during the abeeuoe of the family in summer. With 



this portion of the ground is connected a pleasure-ground 

 walk two miles in length, partly encircling the park, and re- 

 turning by a long sweep to the mansion. Such is an outline 

 of the ornamental features of Bloxholm. It is a garden of 

 quietude and repose — colour not predominating, but is suffi- 

 cient to present an element of cheerfulness and affords a 

 pleasing change to the gaiety, formality, and glitter of " high- 

 life" and "first-fashion" flower gardening of the present 

 day. 



We now enter the useful department, the kitchen gardens, 

 and a glance is sufficient to find that the practice carried out 

 here is of the first order, perfect cleanliness, cheerful neat- 

 ness, and thorough management pervading the enclosures. 

 There is about five acres between the walls. The latter are 

 lower than we usually find them, and are well covered with 

 trees, the Pear trees especially being very fruitful. A mode of 

 renovating old Pear trees msy be mentioned. It has been 

 carried out succeesfully by Mr. Lumsden, and may be useful 

 to others whose trees require renewal without baring the walls. 

 The branches are trained horizontally inches or more apart. 

 When these cease to be profitable every alternate branch is 

 sawn out, leaving the mains 18 inches and more distant from 

 each other. The Bummei growth, oi some oi it, on these 



