68 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



and many other trees are seen, relieved by the sombre greens of 

 conifers and pines. Eastward the ground inclines to be flat, but 

 rises abruptly, and foliage makes a beautiful framework for the 

 neighbouring landscape, where the village spire of Alderbury 

 rises from amid the trees. On the other side the scene is different. 

 There the ground undulates, and is beautified by groups of chest- 

 nuts, while the beech is seen in splendid beauty, and a lover 

 of the pine would notice, too, specimens of Finns insignis 

 and the . deciduous cypress. Here, 

 too, in the distance may be seen the 

 " silent finger " of Salisbury's glorious 

 and world-famed spire. 



Few gardens in Wiltshire are more 

 interesting than those of Longford, 

 and their charms are principally due 

 to the zeal, taste, and knowledge of 

 the Earl and Countess of Radnor. To 

 create such a garden, knowledge and 

 love of Nature must combine. The 

 surrounding country is generally flat, 

 or merely undulating, but judicious 

 planting has given relief. Nothing, 

 moreover, has been done that could 

 in any way mar the effect of the 

 splendid mansion. As we have many 

 a time said, the house and its garden 

 cannot be dissociated. They are 

 parts of a whole, and Longford is 

 an example of judicious arrangement. 

 Tall trees do not shut it in, and climbers 

 are not allowed to hide the cool grey 

 stone. Those which we see are 

 there to add the needed touch of colour. 



During recent years the gardens of Longford have been 

 greatly beautified, and the floral wealth of the garden has been 

 vastly increased. There is, for example, a feature of interest 

 to lovers of hardy flowers in the two mixed borders, each about 

 a hundred yards long, and presenting their pleasing aspect 

 almost throughout the year. Such hards' plants are even used 



charming vases and balls along the terraces and their grey- 

 green svalls, and the delightful landscape beyond, svith its 

 water and rustic bridge. The classic spirit is enshrined in the 

 termination of that splendid garden, svhere the goddess looks 

 out from beneath her crested temple over a vision of stately 

 beauty, in company with the sages and syrens of old. We are 

 transported in thought to the scented gardens of the South, and 

 as if in the Ludovisi, Medici, Doria Pamphili, or some other 



Copyright. 



LONGFORD CASTLE. 



' Country Lift." 



Cofyrigh:. 



THE PARK FROM THE TERRACF 



to some extent in the principal flower garden at Longford, 

 svhich is splendidly shown in one of the illustrations. The 

 design is stately and formal, and reminds us of like arrange- 

 ments at Behon, Castle Ashby, and elsewhere. It is composed 

 of geometrical buds, in svhich are pansies and many other old- 

 fashioned (lowers. Tlie quaint yess r hedges will be observed, 

 ssith their arches a rare teat re the semi-circular end, 

 svith the mossy temple and figure, the classic busts, the 



garden of Italy, we breathe an air heavy svith the fragrance 

 of the land. A choice example of classic garden architecture 

 and sculpture is presented here ; and mark how glorious is the 

 contrast and harmony svith the umbrageous region beyond. 

 The urns and vases, radiant with their floral denizens, or 

 vested svith fragrant climbers, the terminal figures, and all 



other like features, and the 



temple itself, are fine examples 

 of an imposing garden style 

 imported from southern climes 

 to our land. 



But the charms of Long- 

 ford are not all classic, nor do 

 they end or begin with the 

 noble Italian garden. There 

 are terrace svalks of the true 

 old English character, and 

 many places of quiet seques- 

 tered charm. In svandering 

 about the grounds we reach 

 one very interesting spot. It 

 is an old garden near the 

 Rapids, where the waters of 

 the Avon and Etele meet, and 

 is protected by lofty trees, 

 except on the north-east side. 

 Greensward greets the eye, 

 and moss and other roses 

 bloom here more freely, per- 

 haps, than in the formal parts 

 of the gardens. Here, too, the 

 fair white lily and finely- 

 coloured irises are found, while 

 an old Judas tree (Cercis sili- 

 quastrurn) on one of whose 



kind old men say did Judas Iscariot hang will attract attention. 

 Howsot-ver it be in regard to this shadowy, ill-omened history, 

 certainly we say that the tree itself is more picturesque in 

 growth than many, and more interesting in flower, too, when 

 bunches of purple blossoms are seated on its yet leafless limbs. 

 There are hardy ferneries, again, at Longford, to remind 

 us how beautiful is the fern svhen rightly used. Its rich green 

 fronds are cool in colour, rich and beautiful alike in form and 



