GARDENS OLD .-IND Nhlf. 



hue, throughout 

 the summer. 

 Landscape gar- 

 deners will some- 

 times forget that 

 shady places 

 become beauti- 

 ful through the 

 planting of 

 shrubs, tlo\vers, 

 and ferns that 

 demand scarcely 

 a filtering of 

 sunshine for 

 their encourage- 

 in e n t . The 

 visitor will 

 notice, too, a 

 particular sum- 

 mer-house o n 

 a greensward, 

 without any 

 sides, but with a 

 heather-thatched 

 which roses and 

 probably unique 



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Copyright. 



A CORNER OF THE TERRACE. 



roof, supported by oaken pillars, around 

 clematis are twined. Here a curious and 

 device is adopted to add colour to the 

 roof, the plan being to insert small pots of crocus and 

 snowdrop bulbs below the rims, whereby pretty bits of spring 

 colouring and effect are secured. Passing by beds of hardy 

 flowers we reach another summer-house, built so long ago as 

 the memorable ye.ir 1745 ; and still another, built of brick, 

 attracts attention. It has a handsome oaken table, and its 

 tiled roof is overhung by a splendid yew, which is conspicuous 

 in the grounds a sombre companion, some may say, in 

 solitude, but always noble and picturesque. 



Longford is rich also in houses filled with decorative 



and other choice 

 plants, and it 

 worthily main- 

 tains its position 

 among the 

 finest fruit 

 gardens in Eng- 

 land. Often in 

 visiting the great 

 flower and fruit 

 exhibitions are 

 the splendid 

 products of these 

 gardens found 

 in a k i n g n e \v 

 triumphs. There 

 are also pines in 

 much abundance 

 under glass in 

 these days a 

 somewhat un- 

 common feature, 

 since the rapid 



transport of West Indian pines now brings them in splendid 

 condition and cheaply to our tables. Grapes are sumptuous, 

 indeed, in the vineries ; and garden walls, to the length of 

 about a mile, are covered with choice peaches, Morello cherries, 

 and other fruits usually thus cultivated in Britain. The 

 figs, again, are remarkable. There are noble trees of the 

 well-known Brown Turkey variety, and a specimen of the 

 kind named the Brunswick covers a space of not less than 

 3ooft. 



In adding very much to the beauties of Longford, the Earl 

 and Countess have done an excellent work, a real labour of 

 love, and it may be hoped that they will long continue to enjoy 

 and bestow the pleasures of their noble domain. 



:>v 



"Country Life, 



Copyright 



THh IhMPl.l: AND DIAL. 



To:,, I'M- I.ilr " 



