395 



The student of entomology visiting Penllergaer will find much 

 to interest him, for, in ad-lition to Sir John being deeply interested 

 in the science, a pensioned gardener of his, Mr. Stafford, who is 

 8o years of age, has given the whole of his leisure to the subject 

 for the last 60 years. He has got together a remarkable collection 

 of native and exotic butterflies and moths. 



ASHTON COURT, situated in the suburbs of Bristol, is of easy 

 access either by tram or omnibus, yet it is quite away from the 

 city and in the midst of rural surroundings. The demesne belongs 

 to Lady Smyth, and covers a very extensive area. The park 

 which immediately surrounds the house and gardens is enclosed 

 by a wall 5 miles in length and extends from the famous suspen- 

 sion bridge at Clifton on the one side to the village of Long 

 Ashton on the other. It is chiefly remarkable for the great 

 number of fine, well-grown timber trees it contains. The pre- 

 vailing tree is elm, closely followed by oak, with a fair sprinkling 

 of beecb. Many examples are in the prime of life, but some are 

 of great age, and one oak, I was informed, is mentioned in the 

 Domesday Book. This particular specimen, though hollow and 

 decayed at one side, girths 21 feet at 3 feet above the ground, and 

 still appears to have many years of life in store. Another oak I 

 measured girthed 28 feet, whilst I found an elm 19 feet 3 inches 

 and a beech 18 feet 9 inches in girth. The latter two trees were 

 remarkable for the height of the bole. 



The gardens are exceptionally well kept and contain a good 

 collection of plants. Hardy shrubs and herbaceous plants are 

 being planted extensively, whilst roses are grown in large 

 quantities. On a wall I noticed fine examples of Bignonia 

 capreolata, Clematis montana, Fremontia ccd/formca, and other 



similar plants. Near the flower garden I was shown a perfect 

 specimen of Buxus balearica which was 12 feet high and as far 

 through. 



PUBLIC PARKS.— The parks of Newport, Cardiff and Swansea 

 were visited. In the former town the principal park is situated 

 within easy distance of the centre of the town and in a favour- 

 able position for good gardening. Unfortunately, however, too 

 great a use has been made cf laurel and privet in the planting, 

 and, as these shrubs have been hard clipped, the general ettect 

 leaves much to be desired. 



The chief parks of Cardiff are Roath and Victoria. The former 

 is peculiar by reason of its great length and extreme narrowness, 

 for in no part does it exceed 400 yards in width, whilst mocn oi 

 it is considerably less ; yet so well is the narrowness masked by 

 shrubberies, which carry the eye over the boundary fences to the 

 rising ground beyond, that the lack of width is unnoticed, inis 

 park is divided by the public streets into several sections .each one 

 of which is given over to a distinct feature. Thus, ?ne portionis 

 used as a botanical garden, and contains good collections ottieej 



shrubs and herbaceous plants, a rockery, cactus house and 

 student's garden; another is laid out with boding greens and 

 tennis courts, with attractive surroundings of shrnb^^ 

 beds of various showy plants ; a third is reserved as a genera 

 Playground, whilst another contains a lake 30 acres in extent, 



