Jmauj 8, 1874 ] 



JOUBNAL OP HOBTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB, 



37 



Bummer is covered with the beautiful Nymphaea alba. There 

 is a corresponding panel, in which the ceutre is an oval bed, 

 which in summer is filled with C'annas and other subtropical 

 plants. 



The conservatory ia 60 feet long, furnished with some speci- 

 mens of Camellias planted in the border, and with the large 

 Orange trees that adorn the stinare before the Boutb front of 

 the house. Attached 

 to the conserratoiT on 

 the north side is a 

 banqueting room of 

 handsome proportions, 

 and furui;>hed in the 

 best btrle of art and 

 ornamentation. Close 

 to it, on the east side, 

 is a tower, which ia 

 approached by a flight 

 of steps ; and from the 

 south side of the con- 

 servatory is a colon- 

 nade C6 yards long, 

 running east, which is 

 continued to the front 

 of Hulland House. By 

 this means a commu- 

 nication under cover is 

 opened from the house 

 to the conservatory, 

 then to the banqueting 

 room, thea to the log- 

 glo, then to the tower, 

 and home by the flower 

 garden, by the pleasure 

 ground, or by the ter- 

 race walk, along the 

 whole length on the 

 top of the colonnade. 



Passing from the 

 square where Orange 

 trees and other green- 

 house plants stand 

 during the summer 

 months, we enter the 

 orchard house, tbiity 

 yards long. It con- 

 tains Peach and Nec- 

 t^irine trees planted 

 against the back wall 

 and in pots, besides 

 Plum and Cherry trees 

 in pots. Having crossed 

 the green drive em- 

 bosomed in a grove, 

 we enter a range of 

 glass 45 yards long 

 heated by hot water, 

 and divided into five 

 parts, consisting of 

 vineries early, succes- 

 sion, and late, and 

 Peach houses. Be- 

 sides these there aive 



two ranges of heated pits, and frames filled with an abundance 

 of bedding plants for the summer. 



Holland House is surrounded by pleasure grounds so nicely 

 connected with the park that a beautiful and varied land- 

 scape is produced, bounded by deep shady groves that form 

 the framework of this delightful picture. In these well-wooded 

 grounds are many fine old trees. A.n Elm measured 17 feet 

 'd inches in girth > re-measurement this year gave 18 feet] , 

 and two Cedars of Lebanon 14 feet 9 inches, and 12 feet 

 C inches each at 2 feet from the ground. 



Before concluding these remarks we must notice a green 

 drive, which extends half a mile in length towards the Bays- 

 water Eoad, forming, in fact, a grove of Elm, Lime, and other 

 trees, and the Lime-tree walks in proximity to the house must 

 be delightfully shady in the summer heats. We have to add 

 that the keeping of the gardens reflects great credit on Mr. 

 Dixon, who has their management, and that the visitor meets 

 with every attention at his hands. Further particulars re- 

 specting this place and the summer bedding-out in former 



years will be found in onr new series, vol. ii., p. 256, and 

 vol. zuii., p. 150. 



NOTES ON VILLA axd SUBURBAN GARDENING. 



Masageitent of Plants nc Rooms. — When, as often, plants 



get slightly injured by frost, cold water should be sprinkled on 



them before the sun 

 reaches them, and this 

 sprinkling ought to be 

 continued as long as 

 any appearance of frost 

 remains on the foliage. 

 Water is often very in- 

 judicioasly applied to 

 plants in room8,and the 

 evil arises from falling 

 into the opposite ex- 

 tremes of too much and 

 too little. Fear of spoil- 

 ing the carpet, forget- 

 fulness, and sometimes 

 a dread of injuring the 

 plant, are the chief 

 causes of an under-sup- 

 ply of water. On the 

 other hand, many have 

 a notion that such 

 plants should have 

 water every day and at 

 stated periods, without 

 inquiring whether it be 

 necessary or not. Sau- 

 cers or pans are often 

 placed under flower 

 pots to prevent the 

 water which escapes 

 from soiling the apart- 

 ment, but in these cases 

 the saucers should be 

 partly filled with gravel 

 to prevent the roots 

 from being soaked with 

 water, or ttie water 

 which lodges in the 

 saucer should te re- 

 moved. Fanciful and 

 elegant baskets of wire 

 or wickerwork, and 

 plant-tables, are per- 

 haps preferable to com- 

 mon stages. The bas- 

 kets should have a pan 

 of zinc, copper, or other 

 metal, and over this a 

 bottom pierced with 

 holes, or a grating of 

 wire, on which the pots 

 are to be placed. The 

 pan is generally about 

 an inch deep, and has 

 a plug or other con- 

 trivance by which the 

 surplus water may be 

 drawn off. Plant-ta- 

 bles can be constructed 

 in the same manner, 

 and admit of an end- 

 less variety according 

 to the taste of the owner. In either of these the pots may be 

 whoUy concealed by green moss or cut paper, so that nothing 

 but the plants themselves may appear. Water is as essential to 

 the leaves as it is to the roots, because they are hable to get 

 dirty, and thereby to be injured. They should therefore be 

 frequently washed over with a syringe having a rose to it; and 

 in order ti perform this operation properly the plants must 

 generally be removed to some other apartment, where tney 

 should remain tiU they are dry. In winter this operation must 

 be performed in mild weather, only it should be done m an 

 apartment not colder than that in which the plants usuaUy 

 stand, and the water should be about milkwarm. When the 

 plants are in baskets or on tables they can be removed and 

 washed without deranging then: order. Plants which have 

 large and leathery leaves, such as Oranges, Pittosporums, Ca- 

 mellias, and Mvrtles may be washed with a sponge, or if very 

 foul with soap, and the soap carefully removed by pure water. 

 Loose dust may be removed by a pair of bellows. Attention to 

 cleanliness greatly increases the vigour of the plants. 



Bulbs of most sorts flourish in rooms with less care than many 

 other kinds of plants. Hyacinths should be plant-ed in October. 



THE DUTCH GARDES AT HOLLAND HOUSE. 



