THE ROSE GARDENS OF HERTFORDSHIRE. 71 



house, built expressly for the cultivation of orchidaceous 

 plants, several fine specimens of which were in bloom. 

 The skill with which these plants are cultivated needs no 

 comment at our hands ; the prizes obtained at the principal 

 flower shows sufficiently attest the fact. The lawn is decor- 

 ated with flower-beds, among which single specimens of 

 standard Roses are interspersed. We noted the following 

 as the best Boursault : Elegans. Hybrid Bourbon: 

 Coupe d'H^be, Las Casas. Bourbon : Queen, Madame 

 Desprez, and Cardinal Fesch. The natural soil of this 

 garden is gravel ; consequently the flower-beds are filled 

 with prepared soil, A plant of the Cloth of Gold, which 

 had occupied a south wall for three years, had never 

 flowered. By the side of it grew the Single Macartney, 

 which flowered freely and elicited general praise. A line 

 of arches covered with Roses and honeysuckles crosses 

 the lawn, and produces a very pleasing effect. Maria 

 Leonida (Macartney) and Leopoldine d'Orleans (Semper- 

 virens) were trained over a seat, the branches drooping 

 naturally from above with a careless grace, which art 

 might in vain try to imitate. A small bed of the crimson 

 Chinese Rose " Fabvier," its brilliant flowers glowing in 

 the sun, was the last object to rivet the attention. 



At the end of this garden, adjoining the dwelling-house, 

 is a conservatory, well stocked with flowering plants ; 

 there is also an orange house, containing some fine speci- 

 mens of oranges and camellias. 



BROOKM AN'S PARK. Proprietor, R. W. GAUSSEN, 

 Esq. Gardener, Mr ELLIOT. This seat is situate on the 

 high road from London to Hatfield. It is three miles from 

 the latter place, and nine miles from the Broxbourne 

 Station of the Great Eastern Railway. The drive from 

 Waltham Cross to Brookman's is a delightful one. An 

 object on the road worthy of notice is GofFs Oak, a vener- 

 able ruin, which tradition tells us was planted in the time 

 of William the Conqueror. Its huge trunk is but a shell, 



