34 REMINISCENCES OF GARDENS IN TIIE YEAR 1850. 



through a superb collection of Rhododendrons, &c. to this grove; one 

 of the Ferns particularly attracted my admiration; I was told it was 

 the Cambricum, and should like to know more of its habits and local- 

 ities. Near the mansion a numerous collection of the tea-scented 

 China Roses were in flower ; their richness, variety of colour, and de- 

 lightful fragrance, made me surprised they are not more cultivated ; 

 they were considered able to bear one winter out of doors : in the con- 

 servatory the Ixora coccinea reared its showy head of blossoms. 

 From this pleasant vicinity we were soon in North Wales; and at the 

 little bathing place of Towyn, in the grounds of the Corbett family, is 

 (according to a guide-book) the largest evergreen-oak in Britain ; we 

 should have visited it had we known whilst there ; I merely record the 

 circumstance to elicit information. The beauty of the rocky scenery 

 near the road-side was greatly enriched by the contrast afforded by the 

 orange-coloured blossoms of the Ulex manus (dwarf Whin) interspersed 

 with purple Heaths, graceful Ferns, pink Catchfly, &c. — an effect 

 which might be successfully imitated in ornamental rock-work. At 

 Tan-y-bwlch Hall, the immense Rhododendrons had a striking appear- 

 ance in their elevated region, which commands the vale of Festiniog 

 to Harlech Castle : a white Salvia patens was greeted as a novelty in 

 that romantic, garden on the mountain's side. Al Beddgelert, as we 

 walked through the grounds belonging to the hotel on our way to 

 Gelert's grave, a Camellia was growing in perfect health, with dark- 

 green leaves ; it was a bush about five feet high, of a handsome form 

 and redundant foliage, and had stood there at least during one winter ; 

 at its base a Cyclamen was in full flower. Whilst walking on a terrace 

 at Caernarvon, elevated far above the river, in sight of the ancient 

 castle, on our way to explore the site of Segontium, we were attracted 

 by a Passion flower, covered with ripe fruit of a bright red colour; 

 the tree had been trained up the front of the house, and the effect was 

 singularly beautiful. (What species was it?) 



At Chester, a seedsman very kindly indulged my curiosity by allow- 

 ing me to inspect some bunches of small scarlet berries which were in 

 his window ; he told me they were from the scarlet Elder, and had 

 been sent to him. If produced abundantly the tree must be an orna- 

 mental one in the autumn, and deserves to be more known. In the 

 garden of a gentleman near Bradford, in Yorkshire, noted for its fine 

 collection of Roses, &c, I was surprised to see amongst many Ferns, 

 the Ruta Muraria, which I have four times vainly attempted to grow 

 by endeavouring to imitate its native localities, flourishing on the 

 ground near the delicate Allosurus crispus. A specimen of the double 

 Calluna vulgaris was shown to me ; it is extremely elegant, and bears 

 minute examination. In another gentleman's grounds a number of 

 self-sown Rhododendrons were springing up beneath the parent shrubs ; 

 the gardener had selected some, of which he had formed an entire bed, 

 and will no doubt feel much interest in watching their progress. 

 Several meadows . near East Retford were very gay with the wild 

 autumnal Crocus. Arrived at home, the delicate blue flowers of the 

 Ceanothus azurea hybrida, greeted our eyes ; also numerous Cinerarias, 

 which had been planted out after blooming, as recommended in the 



