GARLENS OLD AND 



have been planted at the tim; the hall was built. This 

 would give it an age of about 320 years. The ilex is a 

 native of Italy, and if the hall was built by an architect 

 trained in Italy and Italian workmen Join of Padua is 

 credited vith its design it is more than probable that this 

 is the oldest ilex tr.>e in Britain. The date at which this 

 species of tree was introduced was 1588, which coincides with 

 the completion of Wollato.i Hall. Another venerable relic 

 of the ancient, ornamental timber of Wollaton is the trunk 

 of a Pinus maritima, once considered to be among the largest, 

 if not the largest, in England. It died some years ago, and 

 the head was taken off, as it endangered a summer-h >use 

 near. A boundary oak on the edge of the parish, which 

 coincides with the sunk fence, is 2oft. in girth, but is now 

 failing. Adjoining the terrace is the camellia house, which is 

 one of the most wonderful out-of-date relics of the first 

 efforts at making a winter garden. With the heating apparatus, 

 which also supplied the house with hot water, it is said to 

 have cost 10,000 ; of this, .1,400 was given for the 

 camellias, then most costly exotics. It was in 1823 that this 



broken with the pretty art that hides art. To every other 

 pole is wedded not a rose, but a climbing bine of hop, 

 so that the leaves of the hops and their grape-like green 

 flowers may contrast in colour with the masses of Crimson 

 Rambler. It is a beautiful and artistic effect of studied 

 colour and form. Certain beds arj also devoted to the 

 old-fashioned cabbage rose, damask and moss roses, the 

 whole being sheltered from cutting winds by clumps of 

 choice rhododendrons. 



The flower garden has a glorious southern aspect, with 

 a fine prospect over the park, the lake being in the mid.lle 

 distance, and a background of hills and timber extending far 

 out into the surrounding country. It is laid out with fanciful 

 beds and planted in the freehand style of bedding. Summer 

 annuals and herbaceous plants find a place there as well as 

 the imre formal beJding plants. Roses and carnations are 

 always very much in evidence, as these, with sweet peas 

 and lilies, are Lady Middleton's favourite flowers. 



Among the notable trees surviving is one we have not so 

 far mentioned, viz., the Lencombe oak, a very fine specimen 



THE FIR-TKEE WALK. 



ntry Life." 



house was raised. It is built mainly of copper, brass, and 

 glass, with iron pillars ; the glass was embedded in copper 

 sash-bars, and the domi and gratings were of brass. The 

 price of thick glass and of copper at that date will account 

 for the prodigious cost of the building. The camellias, some 

 of which are seventy years old, are still planted as they 

 originally stood, in four open beds. One plant has a g rth 

 of 24in. They naturally show signs of age. At the south- 

 east end of the camellia house is the roseiy, the entrance to 

 which is through a rustic arch of peeled oak, completely 

 covered with climbing roses. The design of this exquisite 

 rosery will be gathered from the picture here shown. The 

 roses are planted in curved beds, circling round an ornamental 

 iron standard covered with a White Rambler, whilst the 

 outer circle of beds holds chiefly tea roses, with white 

 Madonna lilies planted between them Round the outer edges 

 of the beds stand poles of larch, Irom each of which, looping 

 top to top together, runs a thick rope drooping in curves, 

 .md along this simple a:id rustic tracery the roses run 

 joyfully, showering blossoms over all ; but the effect is 



of which is to be seen on the lower terrace. It is a hybrid 

 oak raised from a cross between an evergreen and a deciduous 

 variety. The first tree of its kind was planted in the nursery 

 of its propagator, where it grew to be a fine tree, but from 

 some cause died, was cut down, the timber saved, and when 

 dry made into boards. At the death of its planter the boards 

 were employed to make his coffin, but the tree left survivors 

 to bear his name. Of the kitchen garden, suffice it to say 

 that it contains everything necessary for a house like Wollaton 

 Hall. Some very fine ornamental iron gates mark what was the 

 entrance to the herbaceous garden and American shrubberies. 

 For this kind of work Nottingham has always borne the palm. 

 It was there that the magnificent gates of Hampton Court were 

 made, which were taken to South Kensington Museum, but 

 may now be restored to their proper place at the ancient 

 palace by the Thames. Our readers will gather that Wollaton 

 js among the very first places of interest in central 

 Hngland, that favoured area in which are concentrated the 

 majority of the greatest and finest examples of the great 

 country homes and gardens of this country. 



