THE ROSE GARDENS OF HERTFORDSHIRE. 47 



and about three yards wide, with flower beds on either 

 side ; on the right is the wall just described, and on the 

 left the lawn studded with ornamental trees and groups of 

 flowering plants. A Verbena garden occupies the end of 

 the lawn near the house ; in the centre is a basin orna- 

 mented with rock-work, and enlivened with a pretty 

 fountain surrounded by a circle of light Norman arches 

 connected with chains over which the Tropaeolum penta- 

 phyllum trails with a careless grace. The simplicity and 

 beauty of this arrangement is irresistible, and the effect 

 is heightened by the dazzling glow of the Verbenas 

 planted in the beds around. Turning to the left we pass a 

 thatched arbour completely fenced in from the the sun 

 with yew and laurel ; behind it is a collection of ferns which 

 luxuriate beneath the shade of two fine hickory trees. 

 A few steps onward and another turn brings us into a 

 winding walk about forty yards long overarched with 

 laburnums, whose golden racemes of flowers drooping from 

 the top of the arcade have a very pretty effect. Passing 

 two fine Rose-Acacia trees, whose fragile branches are 

 fastened to horizontal framework to protect them from the 

 wind, we enter a garden with six sides and six entrances 

 called the " Fountain Garden." There is a basin and 

 fountain in the centre, and the surrounding beds are filled 

 with the usual summer-blooming plants, as Heliotropes, 

 Petunias, &c. A few moments only could be spent here, 

 for adjoining it was the Rosetum, and the perfumes wafted 

 therefrom invited us to pass onward. As we did so we 

 caught occasional glimpses of the first object of our visit, 

 and on entering a brilliant spectacle was before us above, 

 around, below, Roses glittered everywhere. Although from 

 long experience our eyes had become well accustomed to 

 Flora's gay and brilliant scenes, we must confess them 

 somewhat dazzled on the present occasion ; there was 

 indeed a galaxy of beauty. This was not our first visit by 

 many, and while we recognised several old flowers looking, 

 if possible, fresher and fairer than ever, we also met with 



