366 



JOURNAL OF nOETiOULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 21, 187S. 



the gardens for, I believe, nearly twenty years ; in fact, if I am 

 not mistaken, most of the laying-out of this place was done 

 under his supervision from the plana of Mr. Marnock. The 

 neighbourhood of Tunbridge Wells abounds with fine houses 

 and beautiful gardens. After passing many such I came to an 

 entrance-gate with a pretty little lodge charmingly embowered 

 in flowers and climbing plants, opening into the finest avenue 

 of Deodars I have ever seen. The trees stand on turf ; every 

 one of them was in perfect health, flourishing with such vigour 

 as would astonish those who regard this as a " doubtful " 

 Conifer. The densely-clothed pendant branches resting on the 

 turf, and tapering upwards to a height of about 30 feet, abso- 

 lutely gUstened with health, the silvery glaucous hue, so con- 

 spicuous in this Conifer when it is thriving, being finely de- 

 veloped. " Can yon tell me the name of this place ? " " Dun- 

 orlan," was the reply; and thought I, a treat is in store for 

 me, and so it proved. 



The Cedar avenue takes a bold sweep down to the house, 

 which stands upon a sheltered but commanding position. The 

 building and its surroundings are equally fine, a noble pile with 

 wide open upper and lower gravel terraces, each bounded by 

 massive walls with open balustrading, tazzas, vases, and flights 

 of stone steps. At one end of the building is a conservatory 

 in admirable keeping ; at the other a croquet lawn, fringed on 

 the north side by a belt of shrnba and trees, and with some 

 magnificent Conifers, some standing out singly and others 

 clustering behind a temple at its eastern end, the whole com- 

 manding a landscape of great beauty. Banks sloping in charm- 

 ing irregularity downwards to a valley ; on this Eide dressed 

 grounds abounding with shrubs in groups, Conifers clustering 

 together in rich profusion and picturesque contrast, and oc- 

 casional fine specimens standing out alone with the happiest 

 effect. The deep rich green of Rhododendrons, a lake with 

 winding shores — its waters not all visible from one point, but 

 passing behind banks and among the cool shade of trees, with 

 glimpses of walks leading to other points of interest. On the 

 other side banks rise gently to an open undulating country, 

 agreeably broken by trees with dark Pine woods in the distance. 

 Such briefly are the general features of one of the most 

 charming scenes it has ever been my privilege to behold ; 

 nothing incongruous is to be seen ; unity and harmony every- 

 where prevail, and yet there is variety even to excess. Let us 

 explore, for there are ample details to reward our efforts, and in 

 doing so we will strive to combine instruction with enjoyment. 

 By a walk leading from the carriage front to the conservatory 

 there are some specimen Rhododendrons planted singly; the 

 idea is an excellent one, and the position good. The green 

 foliage already affords a pleasing relief and break to the bright- 

 ness of the glass, and some day they will probably render what 

 is usually a somewhat dull spot a most attractive one. We 

 already have in this country Rhododendrons upwards of 30 feet 

 high. Let the reader picture a single specimen of such sorts as 

 Alarm or Mrs. J. Glutton of that height, well proportioned, 

 and with branches to the ground laden with flowers. We have 

 as yet nothing in our gardens to compare with this, but another 

 generation may hope to see it. A gay bank of flowers in the 

 conservatory was screened from the direct rays of the sun by 

 means of blinds of an ornamental character made to slide 

 along the interior of the roof, and not up and down in the 

 usual manner, giving to it a novel appearance, and rendering 

 the building an enjoyable resort in the hottest days of summer. 

 Passing from the terraces downwards to the lake by a walk 

 winding among turf-clad banks among Conifers we come upon 

 a Rose garden of a novel design and very picturesque appear- 

 ance. On the upper side huge masses of rock irregular in out- 

 line protrude from the bank, and are partly concealed by a rich 

 trailing growth of Escallonia macrantha ; on the other side a 

 dense Yew hedge with masses of shrubs serve admirably to 

 screen the Roses from cold cutting winds, and its formality is 

 agreeably reUeved by an arcade of ironwork covered with 

 climbing Koses, under which the walk passes. 



Many features of interest present themselves in the lower 

 part of the grounds by the lake. A rocky cascad"^ fringed with 

 trailing Cotoneaster and a somewhat wild but picturesque 

 growth of shrubs, a winding stream among huge rock boulders, 

 and shady nooks with arbours ; all very enjoyable, and possess- 

 ing an air of quiet seclusion and retirement that is in de- 

 lightful contrast to the open expanse of the upper lawns. It 

 is after passing among such objects of quiet beauty that we 

 come to an arbouf almost concealed in a clump of trees, and 

 overlooking the view we have had engraved. The surprise is 

 a complete one, and the effect is delightful. The avenue is 



17 yards wide and 2G0 yards in length. The trees are the 

 Douglas Fir and Dsodars planted alternately ; they have grown 

 considerably since the photograph was taken, and are already 

 very ornamental. Some day, in another generation or two, 

 when they have grown into stately old trees the effect will be 

 one of surpassing dignity and grandeur. It was a bold step on 

 the artist's part to introduce such a feature at such a point, so 

 totally at variance with the stereotyped rules by which the 

 operations of most landscape gardeners are governed. It is 

 undoubtedly an avenue, but it is not a mere formal one and 

 nothing more — just two parallel lines of trees farther apart 

 than usual. No, there is meaning and expression in every 

 part of it. It is most attractive in itself if regarded simply as 

 an avenue, but it is further replete with interest by the objects 

 to which it leads and others which open into it. At the 

 bottom is a fountain, bold and elegant in design, with an ex- 

 panse of turf around it in fine proportion to its size. At the 

 top a temple, and at intervals along the sides groups of 

 statuary and openings affording views of the rosery and lake ; 

 groupB of shrubs and other important features aM attracting 

 the eye, so as to afford a continuous and pleasing variety. 



The temple standing at the top forms a shrine for an ex- 

 quisite group of statuary in pure white marble, by Adams, of 

 the Lxdy of the Lake and her dog " Brave Lufra." The atti- 

 tude of Ellen is wonderfully natural and full of grace ; her face 

 wears an air of abstraction and deep thought, a Rose has fallen 

 from the hand which hangs listlessly by her side, and Lufra 

 with uplifted paw and pleading gaze vainly strives to attract 

 the attention of his mistress. The work is the conception of 

 a master mind, the execution that of a clever artist. The 

 building of white stone is itself an elegant and costly one, and 

 its interior is beautifully tinted and reUeved with delicate 

 tracery, the whole forming a most graceful tribute to the 

 genius of Sir Walter Scott, and is a commanding and most 

 important object in this beautiful place. 



A splendid specimen of the Mount Enos Fir, quite SO feet 

 high, is worthy of especial note. Very many other kinds are 

 evidently at home here, but a detailed account of them is un- 

 called for. 



Alterations and additions are being made to the two kitchen 

 gardens, and considerable additions are also being made to the 

 glass houpe?. A range of vineries contained some good Grapes, 

 and a glazed Vine border betokened high culture and careful 

 tending, which indeed were evident everywhere. — Edwakd 

 LucKnuEST. 



NOTES AND GLEANINGS. 



We are authorised to announce that the Great Fruit Snor,- 

 of the Koyal Horticultural Society, which is to be held on the 

 loth of November, will be open for two days ; that on the 

 evening of the first day the Exhibition will be lighted by gas, 

 when the public will be admitted on payment of l.<. ; and that 

 the whole amount of the prizes will be paid in full, and not at 

 the rate of 50 per cent, reduction, as was announced in the 

 early part of the year. 



We have received Bulletin No. 2 of the International 



HoETicnLTUR.vL EXHIBITION of 1877, which is to be held at 

 Amsterdam, and it is accompanied by a " Project of Pro- 

 gramme " of the vegetable products which are to form part of 

 the Exhibition. This will not be the least interesting part of 

 it, seeing it embraces all the most valuable of the vegetable 

 products used for food, and in the arts, manufactures, and 

 medicine, such as cotton, tobacco, Peruvian bark, madder, 

 indigo, caoutchouc, and gutta percha ; fats, including fatty 

 oils, !Etheria (essential) oils, suljstances used for paper, cereals, 

 Citechu, Vanilla, Rhubarb, and Sarsaparilla. 



The first Show of the HuU, Yorkshire, and Lincoln- 

 shire PoMOLOGicAL SOCIETY will be held at Hull on Tuesday 

 and Wednesday, October 2Gth and 27th. 



— — The Madresfield Coeri Geape, which in pome places 

 has cracked its fruit, is this year in splendid condition in the 

 cool vinery at Chiswick. The berries may be called enormous, 

 and the colour jet black with a fine bloom. It is well to know, 

 however, that this fine Grape requires a little heat in cold wet 

 autumns like the present, for if there is too much moisture in 

 the house the berries mould and drop. The bunches at Chis- 

 wick are quite a sight, and the berries have never shown any 

 sign of cracking. 



We have received through the kindness of Sir William 



Bagge of Stradsett Hall, Downham Market, twelve acorns of 



