The a large part too. It seems as if the plants do not exhaust the 



Summer soil in the way they do with us big clumps succeed, almost 



Wealth touching each other, and small plants spring up in front and 



of Flower flourish without that half starved appearance, which in our drier 



gardens they so often exhibit. 



Preston Hall garden, of which two pictures are given, is 

 certainly an example of the amazing way in which herbaceous 

 plants grow. I never saw a greater wealth of colour, or 

 healthier looking plants, and yet they had remained undisturbed 

 for years, and very little digging or manure could be given to 

 the beds, as bulbs grew between all the tall summer flowers to 

 blossom in the spring. At the end of July, or early in August, 

 according to the season, one is greeted, on reaching the gate in 

 the wall, by an entrancing vision of blue a blue of a wonderful 

 tone, the clear Cambridge colour and darker shades, without 

 any intermingling of mauve or purple. Spire after spire of 

 wonderful Delphiniums, eight and ten feet in height, stand 

 in procession down the borders which lie on either side, filling 

 the eye with beauty, and making it impossible for the moment 

 to notice the other innumerable flowers of every description, or 

 the screen of climbing plants which hides the fruit and vegetables 

 lying beyond. This screen must have seemed a brave project, 

 when first erected. Strong square posts of great height are 

 joined at the bottom by a trellis four or five feet high, and are 

 connected at the top with chains which swoop from one post to 

 another. These are now festooned with Ayrshire and other 

 white Climbing Roses, Penzance Briars, Montana Clematis, and 

 Spirtea Ariafolia, this latter making a wonderful background 

 of creamy white to many a bright flower. The Roses are in 

 perfection at this time, and the palest blue Delphiniums are to 



52 



