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JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ July 29, 1875. 



as regards their attractive arrangement and the good examples 

 of decorative gardening which they ponrtray. On both these 

 grounds, therefore — their renowned pnbUc character and their 

 intrinsic merits — we draw attention to them in a form of which 

 they are worthy, and as being a pleasant rendezvous to any 

 wandering tourist interested in the beauties of nature and art. 

 In these Grounds, however, art predominates, for their aspect 

 is modern, but the touches are so delicate that in many places 

 it is hidden, and the landscape effect, while being essentially 

 artificial, is in its character pleasingly natural. This is seen 

 in the broad expanse of turf and water, the disposition of 

 rustic bridges, which have a use as well as imparting an orna- 

 mental feature to the Grounds, and the arrangements of a great 

 portion of the flower gardening. But undoubtedly the attrac- 

 tiveness of the Lower Grounds is heightened by contrast with 

 the Aston Hall estate adjoining. The old Grounds are im- 



posing by their venerable aspect and the noble trees which 

 surround the quaint old mansion. These call up reminiscences 

 of a past age, while the Lower Grounds by the modern nature 

 of their treatment — the combination of flowers, shrubs, and 

 lakes — exemplify the present. The only thing venerable in 

 the Grounds is the old Oak which is shown in the engraving, 

 and which measures 9 yards in circumference at the base. 



The Grounds are about forty acres in extent. When taken 

 possession of by Mr. Quilter ten years ago they were in a semi- 

 wild state. There was then no hotel, flower garden, green- 

 houses, conservatory, boats, itc. ; indeed, nothing to attract 

 visitors, the leading object being to realise capital by fruit 

 from the old trees and by cut flowers from the borders. Mr. 

 Quilter at once commenced a series of improvements, which 

 have been going on to the present day, to keep pace with the 

 times and to attract the interest of visitors. Many acres of 



tnrf have been relaid, lakes have been made, shrubs have been 

 planted, walks have been widened, and flower beds laid-out. 

 It is not unusual on special days for ten thousand visitors to 

 congregate in the grounds, and the numbers are every year 

 increasing. Many of the principal inhabitants are yearly sub- 

 scribers, and have access to the grounds for promenade and 

 recreative purposes. The number of men employed in the 

 Grounds exclusive of attendants varies from twenty to thirty, 

 and excellent order prevails under the able management of 

 Mr. Spinks. 



The islands in the centre of the lake — imperfectly shown in 

 the illustration — with its rustic work and central Weeping 

 Willow tree is very ornamental, and the standard Salixes which 

 fringe this lake are remarkably appropriate and pleasing. 

 On one side of this lake are arranged a series of flower beds 

 and shrubs, and on the other is the subtropical garden. The 

 flower beds are now filled with the ordinary summer bedding 

 plants, with which are efl'ectively associated bedding Pansies. 

 This is a combination of spring and summer bedding which 

 it is useful to note. The same mode is also to be seen in 

 Battersea Park, and is much admired by visitors there. 



It is well known that for some weeks after bedding-out the 

 Pelargoniums, &e., the beds are anything but gay — they 

 are simply collections of plants struggling to establish them- 

 selves, but by planting in these beds lines or circles of the 



bedding Pansies, the beds are made attractive in the early 

 summer. The rich blue Pansies are very effective with silver- 

 edged Pelargoniums; and the yellow varieties, in mixture with 

 such plants as Lobelias and Scarlet Geraniums, add a feature 

 of brightness to a garden when it would otherwise be almost 

 destitute of colour. Saoh Pansies as The Tory, Alpha, Per- 

 fection, Golden Sovereign, &c., are valuable acquisitions to a 

 garden in early summer, and being hardy and of easy culture 

 they can be raised without much trouble. These Violas bloom 

 beautifully until the bedding plants proper become estabUshod, 

 and contribute an aspect of cheerfiilness at a time when 

 flowers are especially welcome. When no longer required the 

 Violas can be cut away. At no time do they interfere with 

 the well-being of the autumn-flowering plants. Violas thus 

 used may play an important part in early summer garden 

 decoration. By their aid in these Grounds the beds were made 

 aa beautiful in June as they will bo effective in August, which 

 is a point of no small importance to those who would enjoy 

 their garden not at one particular season, but who as far as 

 is possible covet flowers at all periods of the year. 



Spring and summer gardening is blended in another form. 

 Broad lines and circles of the hardy Saxifraga cordifolia had 

 been exceedingly effective in the spring, and now the broad 

 foliage of the same Saxifraga affords a pleasing relief to the 

 brightness of the Calceolarias with which it is associated. 



