54 THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



the Norfolk marshes, the fronds of some in the shade being more 

 than 6 feet in length. In a place rather more sheltered from the 

 force of the stream the American Royal Ferns thrive equally well ; as 

 also on a somewhat higher level a certain number of other strong 

 Ferns which do not suffer by floods. 



On an open part of the bank a quantity of purple Loosestrife makes 

 a good background for the Ferns, and a patch of Meadow Rue gives 

 variety and a distinct autumn colour. For the rest the engraving 

 shows the distinct and very happy effect of the garden, which is a 

 home for many and beautiful hardy flowers. H. 



POWIS Castle. — Of the many gardens I have seen, very few gave 

 me the pleasure of Powis : first, because of its noble drive through 

 great Oaks with breaks of Fern between, so unlike the dark mono- 

 tonous avenue which spreads gloom over so many country seats. 

 The light and shade and the noble forms of the trees make the 

 picture more beautiful than any primly set-out avenue. The flower 

 garden is beautiful, partly owing to its position, which is that of a true 

 terrace garden — i.e. the ground falls so steeply, that terracing is 

 necessary. These terraces were wreathed with Clematis and beauti- 

 ful with shrub, and flower, and life, a picture of what a flower garden 

 should be. 



As the original name, " Castell Coch," signifies, the castle is built 

 of red sandstone, and stands on the same rock, and the terraces are 

 hewn out of this, which forms the walls, for the most part unaided 

 by masonry. Glancing over a balustrading from the castle level 

 on to the terraces beneath, the scene is charming, and we are 

 struck at once with the harmonious blending of the flowers and 

 their surroundings. A happy idea is carried out in regard to colours 

 by the three terraces having each its predominating colour — viz. the 

 lowest white, the middle yellow, and the highest purple ; not that 

 other colours are excluded, but these prevailing tones are maintained. 

 A charm of this terrace has been for years a number of trellises, 

 8 feet to lo feet high, covered with Clematis. Here and there 

 the Flame Nasturtium suspends graceful festoons of brightest colour. 

 Pyramids, Sweet Peas, good perennials and choice annuals are used ; 

 the stiffness of hard lines being quite broken by the Clematis, Roses, 

 Sunflowers, Hollies, Japanese Maples, and Tree Paeonies. The walls 

 of the terrace are covered with Roses, Clematises, Pears, Peaches, 

 Nectarines, Pomegranate, which flowers freely every season, Magnolia, 

 and Wistaria. 



COTEHELE, Cornwall. — This is one of the finest old houses in 

 the west of England, and the quaint old terraces are laid out in old- 

 fashioned beds and borders filled with hardy flowers. Very little 

 masonry is seen in the formation of the terraces, and the old walls 



