COLINTON HOUSE 



(Transactions, vol. vii. 194). He stated that these 

 hedges had been planted between 1670 and 1680 

 " certainly not later than the latter year " ; so 

 that at the present time of writing they can be 

 nothing less than 228 years old. At the time of 

 Sabine's visit their height varied from 25 to 28 feet, 

 tapering from a basal diameter of 15 feet to 2 feet 

 at the top. Their present height is from 35 to 40 

 feet, the basal diameter being in some places as 

 much as 21 feet, the lower branches layering them- 

 selves freely and forming an impenetrable rampart. 

 The garden hedges extend in all to a length of 

 1120 feet, and must have been planted originally 

 with about 4500 hollies. They are clipped at the 

 end of March, which the gardener, Mr. John Bruce, 

 considers the best season, holding that, if the 

 clipping be delayed till July, as most authorities 

 recommend, there is not time for the young growth 

 to ripen before the winter frosts. 



Mr. Bruce knows what he is talking about, 

 having had charge of these hedges for thirty-five 

 years ; but his employer, Colonel Trotter, takes a 

 different view, believing that June is the best 

 month for pruning evergreens. 



The effect of these lofty walls of dark foliage 

 would be somewhat sombre, were the borders not 

 well furnished with bright flowers. In parts of the 

 garden Colonel Trotter relies much for colour on 

 poppies and other annuals, which, at the time Miss 

 Wilson made her study, made but a poor show, 



93 



