GENERAL INTRODUCTION 243 



South Lodge is one of the best alpine gardens which 

 1 have ever seen. Surrounded by a nobJe frame of shrubs 

 and trees, the rockeries are truly magnificent. The 

 grouping is most artistic and the harmonies of colour most 

 effective. Herbaceous and alpine plants alternating with 

 the shrubs give life and brightness to the whole and the 

 inartistic error of monotonous and uniform planting in 

 masses is avoided, which may prove an owner's wealth, 

 but not his taste. I saw there the choicest of alpines 

 indeed the best of plants from every part of the world. 

 JWyosotidium nobtle (the giant New Zealand Forget-me-not) 

 found a splendid foil in the orange flowers of Lithospermutn 

 canescens; the superb new-comer from Chili, Crinodendron 

 Hookeri, hung deep red blossoms upon a carpet of Linnza 

 borealis an exquisite miniature of colour ; the rare and 

 wonderful Rhododendron J^amscharcicum, imported from 

 Floraire but far outgrowing mine here, stood beside 

 the Australian marvel, Grevillea alpestris. Particularly 

 good too, were Ramondias, Meconopsis and terrestrial 

 orchids the latter, indeed, perhaps of all 1 have seen in 

 England second only to those at Friar Park. 



Batsford Park is the creation of a real genius. Lord 

 Redesdale is well known throughout the horticultural 

 world as one of our most enlightened patrons. The park 

 lies on a wooded hill, planted with every kind of tree 

 that can live in the mild climate of Gloucestershire. 

 Against this background all that has beauty in the vege- 

 table world acres of Narcissus, Squills and Jonquills 

 fields of the fairest Primroses (and in dazzling Primroses 

 the English are acknowledged connoisseurs) are grouped 

 with perfect skill and truth to nature. The ground 

 for acres is carpeted with Heaths (Erica carnea), sheets 

 upon sheets from February to May of vivid pink. All 

 around noble conifers from every country lift their dark 

 clean-cut outlines. There are exquisite trees and shrubs; 



