96 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



Fruit and flower garden- 

 ing go hand in hand at this 

 pleasant abode to an extent 

 rarely seen, and this is not 

 the least interesting feature 

 of the place. The associa- 

 tion of the various branches 

 of gardening might often, 

 in truth, be closer than it 

 is, and certainly our fruit 

 and vegetable gardens vvoulJ 

 gain much in attractiveness 

 by reason of the presence 

 of gayer denizens. The 

 Condover fruit garden may 

 appropriately be described 

 as a reserve flower garden, 

 i : or great numbers of flowers 

 are cultivated year by year 

 solely for the purpose of 

 cutting for the adornment of 

 the house. Thus is the flower 

 garden proper not ruthlessly 

 despoiled, and its fragrance 

 and beaut}' are preserved 

 undiminished. 



Condoverthus has lessons 

 for the garden-lover. There 

 is unfailing charm in a place 

 that possesses noble grass 

 terraces, that is distinguished 

 by its lines of stately yews 

 and glorious hedges, that has 



its various levels approached by such stairways as these. 

 A prodigal wealth of flowers scents the gale in this 

 rarely beautiful garden, where once again we find 

 the architect working hand in hand witli him under 

 whose care are developed the charms of the sylvan shades, 

 the sentinel yew, and the fragrant parterre. The mossy 

 stonework of old stairways leading up from level to level, 

 united in this garden picture with the green slopes, and with 

 the characteristic yews, is most pleasing. Here is Nature 



Copyright. 



THE GEOMETRICAL GARDEN. 



" Country Lift." 



linked with the other work of man, and thus is Nature, as 

 Schiller says, possessed with a soul and exalted by Art. 

 There are many elements of a liberal education in a good 

 garden ; it inspires by its influence and gives the opportunity 

 for expression. 



And, in conclusion, it must be said that the modifi- 

 cations of style at Condover, the uniting of old features with 

 something of a new disposition of them, are very charming and 

 suggestive, as affording a fine example of good gardenage. 



Copyright. 



THE TERRACE STEPS. 



"Country Lifl." 



