512 



JOURNAL OF HORTIODLTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



( Jane 23, 1874. 



which are seen from the entrance to the hall. Although the 

 Bitnatlon is high, and one would imagine rather dry in summer, 

 yet, from the healthy and vigorous appearance of the trees and 

 shrubs, there can be no doubt but the soil in the park is of 

 excellent quality. Gentiana autumnaUs fugax is found in the 

 park. Sir Gilbert Heathcote, one of the founders of the Bank 

 of England, erected the present mansion on the site of the 

 ancient residence, buUt by Sir Henry Maokworth in the time 

 of Charles I. 



In the pleasure grounds there are a great many choice Coni- 

 fers and other interesting plants, which all seem to grow well, 

 although they are fully exposed to high winds. Amongst 

 others I noticed Cupressus macrocarpa from California, a 

 tine plant growing well ; a very fine Weeping Ash, from 30 to 

 40 feet high ; Cupressus torulosa from the North of India, 

 which in some situations is tender, but here it is in good con- 



dition ; Variegated Holly, 30 feet high ; Berberis fascicularis, a 

 grand bush, in flower ; Cupressus Lawsoniana, 20 feet high — 

 there is no doubt but this is one of the finest plants ever in- 

 troduced into this country from California ; Taxodium di- 

 stichum, the deciduous Cypress from North America, -10 feet 

 high; Retinospora pisifera from Japan — this is growing well, 

 and makes a pretty small tree ; Cupressus Lawsoniana erecta 

 viridis, a garden variety, and extremelj' pretty for planting 

 singly on a lawn ; Thujopsis borealis, introduced from Nootka 

 Sound, a fine plant 12 feet high, and very compact ; Libocedrus 

 decurrens, a good plant 12 feet high, growing well ; Welling, 

 tonia gigantea, 30 feet high, a good specimen ; and a large 

 plant of the Snowy MespUus, Amelanchier Botryapium, covered 

 with flowers. 



Planted with evergreen shrubs, so as to hide it from the 

 grounds, there is a pretty rock garden, recently formed by Mr. 



NOEJIANTON HALL.^ 



Grey, the energetic gardener, but not finished at the time of 

 my visit. A great number of rare gems were already planted, 

 and when it is finished it will be a most interesting spot. It 

 would occupy far too much space to name half the rare Alpines 

 already planted. I will only name a few of the most con- 

 spicuous. Among hardy Ferns were fine healthy plants of 

 Ceterach ofiicinarnm, Allosorus crispus or Parsley Fern, the 

 Holly Fern, and many others. Among Alpines were Draba 

 ciUaris, with pretty white flowers; Linnaea boreaUs, a small 

 evergreen perennial with flesh-coloured flowers ; Lithospermum 

 prostratum, a small-growing evergreen shrub with deep blue 

 flowers ; Epimedium macranthum, a large-flowerine kind 

 with pretty flowers ; Erinus alpinus, growing on stones, forming 

 dense little tufts, with pretty red flowers — a perfect gem among 

 Alpines ; Antennaria dioica, with small pretty leaves ; Semper- 

 vivum rupestrc, dark bronzy leaves, purple in winter, very 

 striking; Saxifraga peetinata, small and compact-growing; 

 S. oppositifolia, beautiful for massing ; S. pyrenaica, large 

 and bright ; S. Ugulata, S. afiinis, S. rivularis, S. ceratophylla, 

 shining-calyxed, from Spain ; and many others ; Gentiana 

 verna, very dwarf, with deep blue flowers ; Bamondia pyre- 

 naica, one of tbo best Alpines in cultivation ; Sedum glaucum, 

 pretty for growing on stones, or forming a carpet for small 

 beds ; and Sedum acre aureum, which will also grow on stones, 

 and when used in spring is very telling among other Alpines. 



The flower beds were gay with Hyacinths — red, white, and blue, 

 mixed in the betif. amongst Primroses, Polyanthus, and Eran- 

 this hyemalis, or Winter Aconite. Some beds were filled with 

 such plants as Pulmonaria officinalis, Doronicum eaucasicum, 

 with bright yellow flowers ; Arabis albida and variegata. 

 Ericas, and such-like flowers. The flower garden has many 

 pretty shrubs planted about among the beds, and as these were 

 all full of spring flowers the effect produced was very pleasing. 

 There is a pretty wild borderin the pleasure grounds, m which 

 were growing many interesting spring flowers, such as Adonis 

 vernalis ; Anemone apennina, the blue Wood Anemone ; \. 

 apennina blanda ; Sanguinaria canadensis, a hardy North 

 American plant with wliite Anemone-like flowers ; and Nai'- 

 cissus moschatus. The idea of a wild border in pleasure 

 grounds is a good one, as plants in such a position can be al- 

 lowed to grow at random as it were, and thus show their native 

 style of growth. 



The kitchen gardens are not very extensive; but spring. 

 gardening is also introduced with excellent taste. On entering 

 from the pleasure grounds there is a border on each side of 

 a walk 100 yards long and 9 feet wide, on each side planted 

 in lines, both sides being alike. The first hno next to the 

 walk was Aubrietia purpurea, the second Arabis variegata, 

 the third and fourth Anemones of mixed colours, and the 

 sixth line Doronicum eaucasicum. Ob each side of the principal 



