68 THE ROSE GARDENS OF HERTFORDSHIRE. 



raised terrace of considerable length from which a fine 

 view of this part of the garden is obtained; the Essex 

 hills, embracing part of Nazing Common, affording an 

 agreeable prospect in the opposite direction. A shaded 

 walk descends " slowly winding " to a canal, over which 

 a rustic bridge is thrown ; the scene enlivened by an 

 excellent imitation of rocks formed of brick and cement 

 thrown with careless hand in the bed of the stream. 

 Near this spot is a rustic building which perfectly realises 

 the idea of 



" The calm retreat, the silent shade ;" 



and an agreeable encounter on a summer's day is a retreat 

 so pleasantly shaded, suggesting, in addition to the ordi- 

 nary enjoyments of gardening, ideas of coolness and 

 repose. But our path lay onward, and we pursued it till 

 we entered the Dahlia garden, where we were confronted 

 by a Gothic arch in ruins, covered with ivy, and in 

 judicious connection therewith were antique windows 

 apparently dilapidated by the hand of time. On the side 

 of this garden, adjoining the lawn, was a border of Roses, 

 five plants deep, formed of standards and dwarf-standards. 

 It contained the usual popular sorts. Among the new 

 ones were Moss Laneii and Geant des Batailles, whose 

 brilliant tints recalled the description of Lovelace : 



" Vermilion ball that's given 

 From lip to lip in heaven ; 

 Love's couch's coverlid." 



In the centre of this garden is a column of Roses ; 

 several plants, principally Sempervirens, being planted at 

 a little distance from each other and then united into one 

 mass. The effect of this column was decidedly good, and 

 it is worthy of imitation. There was also a plant of 

 Leopoldine d'Orleans standing alone, trained as a weeper, 

 the finest specimen of such we had ever seen, and a 

 splendid Felicite" Perpetue but little inferior. We also 



