Deoembei 16, 1876. ] JOURNAL OF HOETICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEE. 



535 



plants. AsBOoiated with them were Poinsettiae, of which 

 huudreilB are grown having discs of 10 to 14 inches in dia- 

 meter ; Solanums and Chrysanthemums, very large and fine; 

 Eiohardias, winter-flowering Pelargoniums with trasses as fine 

 and fresh as at midsummer, Harold, Excellent, and Vesuvius 

 being the best; and several large plants of Sericographis 

 Ghiesbreghtiana— this useful old plant is grown after the 

 manner of show Pelargoniums, and in winter its glossy foliage 

 and scarlet sprays are invaluable for cutting for indoor decora- 

 tion. These are a few of the plants which were in bloom in 

 October, and a more brUliant display can seldom be seen at 

 any period of the year. Basket plants are also suspended 

 from the roof, the most effective being Aspidistra lurida 

 variegata fringed with Tradescantia zebrina ; Adiantum cuuea- 

 tum fringed with Mesembryanthemum cordifolium variegatum ; 

 Adiantums fringed with Saxifraga sarmentosa, and Platyoeriums 

 and green and variegated Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. Besides the 

 plants are birds which warble their songs of spring in the 

 genial temperature which is provided, and these with the 

 flowers, roomy promenades, and inviting chairs which are 

 provided, make the structure in the highest degree enjoyable. 

 Externally it is appropriately ornamented, and is in excellent 

 keeping with the surrounding architecture. It was erected by 

 Mr. Ormson of London, and it is admirably furnished by 

 Mr. Buck. Passing from its portals we enter 



The Groonds. — These are extensive, embracing upwards of 

 fifty acres. The late baronet took great delight in the sur- 

 roundings of his mansion and added much to their attractive- 

 nsss, but he did not decorate in the " gorgeous style " and set 

 his garden aglow with scarlet and yellow : he was too much of 

 a botanist for that, and loved trees, and flowers, and Ferns for 

 their own inherent beauties, and not because they would " go 

 well " with any particular system of embellishment. He there- 

 fore planted trees, but not in formal lines ; dells and hollows 

 he transformed into caverns and grottoes for his Ferns ; made 

 rustic buildings, and arranged his plants in systematic and 

 botanical order. This work still remains and speaks highly 

 for his taste and industry. The present baronet has also im- 

 proved largely — in fact he is continually improving — improving 

 yet preserving. New lawns have been made, and Conifers 

 permitted to develope themselves ; drives and walks have been 

 judiciously formed, and structures erected both of an orna- 

 mental and useful character. The site is generally flat, the 

 mansion overlooking a park of considerable extent containing 

 fine trees and effective water scenery. The lawns contiguous 

 to the mansion are very spacious, and contain isolated speci- 

 mens of deciduous trees and some very fine Conifers. Near 

 the mansion is a terrace walk about 100 yards in length orna- 

 mented with vases, and in the summer with several fine speci- 

 mens of Aloes. Near the extremity of the terrace in a square 

 recess fronting Sir Tonman's private apartments is a flower 

 garden, the design being appropriate to the architecture ; and 

 this in summer is furnished with bedding plants, in winter 

 with hardy plants, and in spring is gay with bulbs. From the 

 terrace are many pleasing views, one of which, showing the 

 church in the distance — a venerable structure about to be re- 

 stored, is shown by our woodcut. In this view glimpses are 

 obtained of some of the Conifers, the finest being a specimen of 

 Abies Douglasii, the branches sweeping the lawn and measuring 

 52 yards in circumference. This specimen having lost its 

 head a few years ago, Mr. Buck, with the aid of ropes and the 

 assistance of an adjoining tree, fastened upright one of the 

 side branches, which has formed a perfect substitute for the 

 original leader. Another Douglas Fir raised from a cutting 

 by the late baronet is now 30 feet high. There are also several 

 good Wellingtonias and many fine Cedars of Lebanon. Cedrus 

 atlantica is also in excellent condition, as are Piceas pinsapo, 

 Nordmanniana, and other popular sorts. The lawns also con- 

 tain very fine Yews, which have been judiciously tended; also 

 Hollies and other shrubs, including Ehododendrons, flourish 

 admirably in the strong clayey soil. The pleasure grounds 

 extend to the reservoir, which is nearly a mile from the man- 

 sion, and is approached by an avenue of choice young Conifers. 

 The reservoir was made by Mr. Buck to supply the mansion 

 and gardens with water, and it must be admitted that be has 

 accomplished his task in a highly successful manner, for no 

 adjunct to the residence is more useful than this, and none 

 more ornamental. 



Another attraction of Eolleston is the hardy fernery. This 

 is formed in a hollow, and is approached by walks curving 

 through the shrubbery. It is completely embowered in foliage, 

 and is an enjoyable retreat during the sultry days of summer. 



The natural formation of the ground has been taken advantage 

 of, the hollows having been deepened and the hills raised. 

 These have been faced with rocks, and are charming by their 

 very ruggedness, and the tortuous passages leading under 

 arches into capacious caverns are richly clothed with Ferns. 

 One of these grottoes is 50 yards in length, and is capable of 

 affording accommodation to a large festive party, to which 

 purpose it has been frequently devoted. How many natural 

 hollows are there in shrubberies which are occupied with rub- 

 bish, which by a little, and only a little, tasteful application of 

 art may be transformed into ferneries, and which as summer 

 retreats and attractive nooks would contribute immensely to 

 the diversity and interest of a garden ? There are many such 

 places, and the rocky dells at Eolleston are an example of how 

 they may be beautified, and how appropriate they are for the 

 cultivation of this elegant family of plants. In this dell the 

 Osmundas regaUs, einnamomea and cristata, Struthiopteris 

 germanica, Lastreas in variety, and Onoclea sensibilis flourish 

 luxuriantly ; while equally healthy but of more lowly growth 

 are Aspleniums Euta-muraria and marinum, Adiantum peda- 

 tum, Trichomanes radioans, with thousands of the Hart's- 

 tongue. Beech and Oak Ferns, which in cool spots and the 

 shade which trees afford, will flourish in almost any sort of 

 soil. 



A notice of the more useful department of the gardens at 

 Eolleston must be postponed ; but here also considerable im- 

 provements and additions have been ably carried out by Sir 

 Tonman's old servant and skilful gardener, Mr. Buck.— J. W. 



ATRIPLEX HALIMUS AS A SEASIDE PLANT. 



Of late many inquiries seem to have been made about 

 plants suitable for the seaside, and lists have been given ; but 

 there is one shrub which I noticed a few months ago at a 

 fashionable seaside place that I do not recollect having met 

 with before, neither is its name mentioned in any nursery- 

 man's catalogue of shrubs. It was flourishing remarkably, 

 and I expect will do so also in other places of a like kind. It 

 is an old plant— at least it is reported to have been introduced 

 into this country as long ago as 1C40. 



Atriplex Halimus is an evergreen shrub with foliage of a 

 glaucous hue, habit bushy, and very distinct from other sea- 

 shore shrubs. I believe it to be closely related to the garden 

 Orach, and there is said to be one or two British species also 

 of an eatable kind belonging to the genus. The species men- 

 tioned above seemed to make a neat and convenient hedge, 

 to which purpose it was often put in front of some of the villas 

 at Bournemouth, and its appearance indicated that it grew as 

 fast as was wanted. It did not seem to object at all to any 

 kind of soil offered it. The natural soil of the place is sandy 

 or sandy peat ; but we aU know that in the immediate vicinity 

 of a house newly built the material dug out of the cellars, &c., 

 is mixed with the top soil, and in the place I speak of there 

 were beds of a reddish kind of clay met with now and then 

 not by any means inviting to vegetation, yet I think this 

 plant did not object to it. 



I believe it to hail from Spain, and though it has been in 

 this country more than two centuries it is far from being well 

 known, but it certainly deserves a trial in places where there 

 is a desire to vary the ordinary list so often met with ; and 

 although there are many shrubs more to be admired than it 

 is, the number that will bear the spray from a regular south- 

 wester is only limited. Planted, therefore, along with Broom, 

 Tamarisk, Gorse, Heath, and other plants, the chances are 

 that this one will maintain its place. " And what is this?" is 

 an inquiry the planter will probably often have made him ; and 

 possibly on that account he will think none the less of it. Of 

 its hardihood for inland purposes I know nothing, but expect 

 it is not without its faults, or it would have made its way long 

 before this into general planting ; but if it will do in very 

 exposed places on the seashore it is well worth patronising, 

 and I suppose by its appearance that it is not difficult to 

 propagate.— J. Eobson. 



APHIDES IN WINTER. 

 Most horticulturists must have noticed these insects in 

 winter at full play (or work) in greenhouses that contain 

 Geraniums, where the plants have not been properly attended 

 to in the autumn, so that a juvenile brood, brought under 

 cover while of small size, under a fostering warmth becomes 

 fat and flourishing. I find, however, that aphides in small 



