592 Garden Calls . — Deepdene, 



on the subject. In the fruit-garden there is an excellent crop of grapes, in 

 a vinery on Mr. Atkinson's construction, and one of peaches in low Dutch 

 pits, like those of Mr. Labouche (Vol. III. p. 590.), without artificial heat of 

 any kind, by which the fruit comes into use between the forced peaches and 

 those in the open air. In a botanic stove in this garden there are forty- 

 nine species and varieties of i/ibiscus, recently raised from imported seeds; 

 only one or two of which have yet come into flower. Francisifl Hope«na, 

 formerly noticed, is here in great luxuriance and beauty. In the open 

 border is a fine specimen of Mr. Barclay's scarlet thistle, and another thistle 

 8 ft. high, which Mr. Woods, who is an excellent British botanist, considers 

 a new species, and we hope it will be named after him. In a smaller inclo- 

 sure the American and English cranberry are doing remarkably well in beds 

 of dry peat. 



The valley, open and sloping to the south, from which this residence 

 takes its name, besides its architectural and sculptured decorations, phea- 

 santry, fountain, grotto, and some rare antiquities, is richly ornamented 

 with groups of American and other rare shrubs and trees, exotics and an- 

 nuals; and no situation can be better adopted for half-hardy articles. »S'aIvia 

 chamsedryoides, with its deep-blue flowers, has a very fine effect in summer 

 masses. The heliotropiums planted out here are of a very distinct variety, 

 large in their leaves and flowers, and so hardy, that they ripen, seed, and 

 sow themselves. Mr. Woods pointed out to us several plants which had 

 sprung up from this year's seeds. The georginas are remarkably good, 

 and the whole of them were raised in the early part of the season from 

 cuttings, the advantages of which Mr. Woods has promised to point out in 

 a professional communication. There is an excellent collection of tree and 

 dwarf roses ; and at few places does the yellow rose bloom so freely as here. 

 The Liquidambar and Magnolia tripetala are rising in the woods from self- 

 sown seeds; the former is so abundant that it might pass as indigenous. 



The conservatory is highly ornamental from the style of its architecture, 

 the free growth of the plants, the fine disposition of the climbers, the exte- 

 rior approach through a terraced garden of orange trees and exotics, and, 

 above all, its connection with the galleries and cabinets of the most exqui- 

 site sculpture, antique and modern. A specimen of Fuchsia gracilis is 

 remarkably fine, and perhaps the largest in the country. Most of the 

 thino-s have grown so bulky, that, with the exception of some of the 

 creepers, Mr. Woods proposes to take them out, renew the soil of the beds, 

 and replant, with a selection from the best and most suitable things now 

 in green-house culture. This practice deserves the particular attention of 

 all who possess conservatories. Experience will soon prove, that whenever 

 ornamental plants are planted out in beds of earth under glass, they will 

 require renewal every five or seven years, in the same way as do plantations 

 of gooseberries or raspberries. In front of the conservatory is a plantation 

 of orange trees in pots sunk in the ground; and of different descriptions of 

 green-house plants, chiefly from the Cape of Good Hope and New Holland, 

 turned out of the pots into the soil, in order to grow and flower freely 

 during the mild season, and take their chance of standing the winter. The 

 effect in summer is excellent, and it has been found that several New Hol- 

 land species, such as vicacia dealbata, and others, have survived several 

 winters. We have repeatedly recommended this practice, both with 

 hot-house and green-house plants, not only for the sake of the rare and 

 splendid appearance produced during summer, but for the chance of find- 

 ing some of the species hardy enough to stand the winter, and thus adding 

 to our acclimated trees. Every gardener who has a green-house or a hot- 

 house, or even pits, which will keep plants during winter better than 

 either, ought to have a clump on his lawn expressly devoted to this pur- 

 pose ; and in this clump, every May, he ought to turn out all his spare 

 plants. If he has no lawn, he undoubtedly will have borders ; and he will 



