Pec. 15, 1855.] 



THE GARDENERS' CHRONICLE. 



823 



The translation we need hardly add is excellent, and Gromier du Cantal Grape, which is much liked by his r 



if f as we hope, the second volume has an ample index, employers. The Frontignans have been remarkably 



the public will at last be in possession of what has long good; the Hamburghs, Muscats, and St. Peters' are verV 



been wanted— an admirable work on astronomy fitted fine and well ripened. We remarked a very excellent 



for persons besides those already well acquainted with 

 the subject. 



Garden Memoranda. 



Harleston Hall, near Grantham, the Seat of 

 Gregory, Esq. — The educated and refined taste 

 of the late Mr. Gregory Gregory was employed not only 

 in the erection of his princely mansion at Harleston, 

 but in the building and embellishment of the cottages 

 of his more humble neighbours and tenants. The pre- 

 sent road to the Hall is through the village of Harles- 

 ton, and the attention of the visitor is immediately 

 arrested by the many picturesque examples of cottage 

 architecture situated in the village. In deviating from 

 the ordinary, and by no means attractive style of cot- 

 tage, usually built for our agricultural labourers, Mr. 

 Gregory has not interfered with the comfort of the 

 cottager, or in attempts at improvement, merged into 

 extravagant or injudicious decoration. The cottages 

 are good substantial structures, of varied rustic 

 character, and are pleasingly and irregularly disposed 

 throughout the village ; most of them are characterised 

 by the picturesque addition of porches, over which 

 handsome climbing plants are trained, and fronting 

 many of these cottages are the old-fashioned draw-wells, 

 contrived by the elegance of their construction to lend 

 a picturesque feature to the trim and well kept 

 gardens which we see on every side. 



Entering the domain from the village, we shortly 

 reach the kitchen garden, which occupies a very promi- 

 nent position by the road leading to the Hall. In ordi- 

 nary cases that portion of a garden devoted to the 

 cultivation of fruit and vegetables is put out of sight 

 as much as possible ; Mr. Gregory took a novel view 

 of that arrangement, and determined upon giving to 

 that department of his garden, which should be of the 

 first interest and utility, not only a prominent position, 

 but adequate architec- 

 tural embellishment^ 

 so that it should main- 

 tain the peculiar cha- 

 racter of the mansion, 

 and be worthy of the 

 purpose to which it 

 was devoted. Accor- 

 dingly we find extra- 

 ordinary architectural 

 features introduced in- 

 to the garden ; amongst 

 the most noticeable 

 are numerous massive 

 piers richly ornamen- 

 ted with carved An- 

 caster stone, which 

 relieve the height of 

 the walls, and give 

 great character and 

 grandeur to the garden 

 — the embellishment of 

 the walls with stone — 

 the^ worked conical 

 copings—stone niches 



the great height of the walls— and the peculiar plan of 

 the garden. Viewed as an attempt to give a new and 

 important character to a kitchen garden, it is certainly 

 of great interest and stands unique in garden architec- 

 ture. 



The first deviation from the customary style of 

 kitchen garden construction is observable in the peculiar 

 form of the garden, which is pentagonal in its arrange- 

 ment. The outer walls are 20 feet in height, and are 

 elegantly coped with stone ; they are constructed with 

 flues to heat the whole extent of wall ; the panels of the 

 wall fronting the approach road are faced with stone. 

 On the south-west side of the garden a semicircular 

 arrangement of massive and ornamental stone piers 

 projects from the garden, the spaces are protected with 

 Uttu railings, and in the centre is a gateway intended as 

 the principal entrance. Within the garden there is a 

 second wall 18 feet in height, which assumes the same 

 shape as the external wall. The garden is intersected with 

 straight walks, radiating from this central entrance ; 

 tta walks necessarily pierce the interior wall, and at 

 4e point of intersection the ends of the walls terminate 

 "\ three successive massive piers richly embellished 

 with stone; between the two last, and on each side of the 

 walk are elaborately carved stone niches intended for 

 vases or statues. 



Borders appropriated to flowers are on each side of 

 & e principal walk ; this conducts us to the forcing- 

 houses, situated at the north extremity of the garden, 

 out which, owing to the peculiar plan of the garden, are 

 pot seen from the entrance. The range of houses (not 

 deluding the temporary structures which are at present 

 employed in connection with it) consists of three princi- 

 pal Vineries, 50 feet in length each ; these are of very 

 ||ght and elegant construction ; the sashes are of copper, 

 J;ke the Frogmore houses, but there are no sliding 

 h ghts to the houses, ventilation being secured by a 

 cl **er arrangement of ventilators in the back wall ; there 

 *** recesses in the back wall that Vines planted there 

 J^y be retarded while forcing is going on in the house ; 

 tu*s arrangement must often prove advantageous. The 

 ^taes in these houses are remarkably vigorous and fruit- 

 Itt l* m Mr. Wade has been very succesful in fruiting the 



Black Grape as large as the Hamburgh — very distinct in 

 foliage, which Mr. Wade calls one of the varieties of 

 West's St. Peter's ; the same Grape is grown and esteemed 

 in the neighbourhood under the name of the Black 

 Alicant. Whatever the name it is certainly a mo6t valu- 

 able variety ; it keeps as long as the St. Peter's 

 Grape, is very fruitful and handsome. The range 

 is extended and embellished by a central structure, 

 built to allow the introduction of specimen plants, or to 

 afford a resting place for visitors. 



Behind the range of houses are sheds, Mushroom 

 houses, &c, &c, and a large space of ground intended as 

 a framing ground. Returning through the kitchen 

 garden we remark the healthy and vigorous condition of 

 the wall trees. Mr. Wade employs the materials from 

 some old glass structures to cover some of the Peach 

 trees. Great variety of aspect is secured by the arrange- 

 ment of the walls, and very great upward space is 

 secured to the trees. The natural soil of the garden is 

 dry, but it has been brought into excellent condition by 

 the introduction of fresh soil. Leaving the kitchen 

 garden we enter the road leading upward to the Hall, 

 which is distant about a quarter of a mile. 



A short distance from the kitchen garden a lodge of 

 very beautiful design and workmanship spans the 

 approach road ; this is also built of Ancaster stone. 

 Proceeding towards the hall, which is built on the slope 

 of a hill facing to the north, we enter by a straight road 

 the grand court, and the extent, magnificence, and 

 finished beauty of detail of the noble building becomes 

 strikingly evident. The late Mr. Gregory was well 

 versed in the architectural riches of his own as well as 

 other countries, and he has borrowed the most beau- 

 tiful features from our finest Elizabethan mansions, and 

 embodied them in the construction of the present 

 splendid example of that picturesque style of building. 

 On each side of the entrance gates — which are of 



- ■ 



.•%- 





terrace from which this view is obtained is of 

 elegant proportions, and exhibits great constructive 

 skill. It may be called the fountain terrace, that 

 character being given it by a beautiful white marble 

 fountain placed in the centre. The terrace is further 

 embellished with marble vases, and is accessible from 

 the mansion by two flights of steps. At the base of this 

 structure is a second terrace, on which is placed an 

 immense sculptured marble stand for flowers and 

 numerous vases. 



The conservatory is on the south-west angle of the 

 Hall and adjoins it. The character of the mansion is 

 preserved as much as possible in its construction. 

 There are five divisions in the conservatory, one for 

 Palms, a second for stove plants of another character, a 

 third for Orchids, and departments for Camellias, 

 Orange trees, and greenhouse plants. The interior 

 arrangements are as yet incomplete. The idea of 

 subdividing a conservatory and appropriating the 

 divisions to as many classes of plants, is novel 

 and excellent. It gives the gardener an immediate 

 opportunity of exhibiting plants of every class to his 

 employer, who, as in this case, can step at once from 

 his drawing-room to inspect them. To complete our 

 inspection of the garden, we reascend the terrace steps, 

 and passing up the abrupt slope, fashioned into terraces, 

 we reach a walk nearly at the crest of the hill, by the 

 side of which are clipped Yew trees ; this walk leads to 

 others in the wood which crowns the hill, and into 

 which it was the intention of Mr. Gregory to have 

 extended the pleasure-grounds. The view from this 

 elevated position, embracing the Hah, the various towers, 

 terraces, and gardens merging off into a distant and 

 diversified landscape, forms a picture unsurpassed in its 

 way by any view we are acquainted with. 



A very beautiful building, calculated by its style and 

 embellishments to carry out the character and magnitude 

 of the place, is situated a short distance to the east of 

 the Hall; it contains the stables, coach-houses, and resi- 

 dences for persons in that department ; it is most con- 

 veniently situated, and sufficiently concealed by a wood 

 which here approaches the Hall. The interior arrange- 

 ments and conveniences of the Hall are commensurate 

 with its external grandeur, the same excellent taste 

 pervades everything. The ban que ting-hall is said to be 

 the finest in the kingdom ; the grand Btaircase is the 

 most remarkable and gorgeous thing of the kind in 

 existence. For many years Harleston was denied to 

 visitors ; the present proprietor, who is proceeding with 

 the work left incomplete by the death of his lamented 

 predecessor, kindly permitted, during the last summer, 

 the Hall to be shown one day in the week, and very many 

 curious visitors availed themselves of a long-coveted 

 privilege. No one visiting Harleston should fail to see 

 the old manor-house which is on the estate. It is 

 extremely picturesque, and iudubitably one of the most 

 ancient manorial halls in England. 



COTTAGE AT HARLESTON. 



wrought iron, and of great beauty — are handsome stone 

 lodges, richly embellished with carved stmework ; a 

 wing of the building runs down the east side of the 

 court, a superb flanking tower stands at the angle of the 

 west side. The centre of the court is laid down with 

 turf, protected by massive iron posts, and the space in 

 the angles of the court is raised and planted with Ber- 

 beris aquifolium ; a very fine effect is obtained from the 

 large masses of this handsome evergreen, heightened 

 just now by rich clusters of its purple berries peeping 

 from its dark green foliage. 



Leaving the court, we ascend to view the private 

 gardens by flights of steps, guarded by a balustrade 

 ornamented with vases, and lions couchant in white 

 marble. We gain first the bowling-green, which is the 

 commencement of a number of successive terrace flats 

 cut out of the slope of the hill ; numerous stone seats 

 are arranged about the green, and a tower, correspond- 

 ing to the court tower, flanks its extreme west angle. 

 A second flight of steps conducts us to a level space of 

 considerable extent, traversed by broad walks ; quaint 

 flower beds are cut out on the turf ; a bank of evergreens 

 bounds this garden to the west. Flights of steps with 

 an excellent contrivance for vases independent of the 

 balustrade, pierce this screen of shrubs, and passing 

 up a sheltered walk, bounded by borders rish in herba- 

 ceous and spring-blooming plants, we again ascend steps 

 which lead us to a tower commanding views of the 

 Hall, gardens, and a great extent of level country ad- 

 joining the vale of Bel voir. Belvoir Castle is also a 

 prominent feature in the landscape west of the Hall. 

 Near this tower is an Italian garden, in which is a 

 curious stone framework for climbing plants. Irom 

 this point we pass along the face of the hill, which now 

 dominates the mansion, and is cut into slopes and 

 terraces, some of the former covered with Ivy, others 

 with Berberis aquifolium, and attaining a majestic 

 square terrace we have an opportunity of inspecting the 

 south front of this magnificent mansion ; new features 

 of beauty and interest are seen, and we can better 

 realise the great extent of the Hall from this 

 point of view. We should add that the building 

 is entirely constructed of Ancaster stone. Ine 



i 



FLORICULTURE. 



The Chrysanthemums in the Temple Gardens 

 have this year been the subject of universal admiration, 

 showing that with proper skill and care a magnificent 

 display of these gay flowering plants may be had every 

 autumn in perfection for weeks together, even under 

 the murky atmosphere of London. Time was, we are 

 told, when red and white Roses bloomed profusely in these 

 venerable gardens. If Mr. Broome, the gardener, has 

 failed to flower these now as in days gone by, he at least 

 manages annually to produce an excellent substitute in the 

 shape of a glorious display of Chrysanthemums. How 

 this is effected the following memoranda, kindly 

 furnished to us by Mr. Broome, will explain :— 

 The plants are all taken out of the ground after they 

 have done blooming, and put in by the heels till spring. 

 The borders are then dug up from 18 inches to 2 feet 

 deep, taking care to throw the bottom spit or subsoil on 

 the top. Six inches under the top from 3 to 4 inches of 

 cow dung is put; this serves as a mulching to retain the 

 moisture in the hot summer months better than 

 anything else, and keeps a good foliage on the 

 plants. The old roots are next divided, and the 

 strongest suckers planted singly. This operation is 

 performed at the latter end of March and April. As 

 soon as they grow up to 9 or 1 inches they are pegged 

 down, and kept in that condition till the middle of 

 August This keeps them short, and allows annuals 

 and summer flowering plants to grow between 

 them Mr. Broome then begins to take off all lateral 

 shoots as soon as they are formed, and continues 

 to do so till they show their crown bud. He 

 then disbuds them, choosing the best and healthiest 

 bud for flowering. By the latter end of August the roots 

 have found their way to the surface of the ground ; 

 from 3 to 4 inches of rotten dung or rich mould are 

 then laid on the top, taking care to supply the plants 

 with plenty of water daily, which is best done in the 

 evenings, as it prevents them from flagging during hot 

 sunshine on the following day. It must be borne in 

 mind that this treatment is for specimen plants, with 

 not more than three or four blooms on one stem. 

 Plants not grown for the sake of large flowers or for 

 specimens are planted singly, but their laterals are not 

 removed ; they are, however, treated m all otlier re- 

 spects the same, except the disbudding. If g™ wn ™ 

 pots, for ornamenting the greenhous * ffi *?* A * 

 treated as Pompones are managed. Ihe lauer are 

 found to require more protection from frost than the 

 large-flowering kinds. They are, therefore^ usually 





