Highclere. 251 



spring of 1778, being then 4 ft. high, and having been raised 

 from a cone gathered at Wilton in 1772. Being measured on 

 the 5th July, 1832, its circumference, at 3 ft. from the ground, 

 was 10 ft. 2 \ in.; another, immediately to the south of it, being 

 examined at the same time, measured 10 ft. 3 in. ; a third, in the 

 park to the north of the house, and close to the back entrance, 

 measured 10 ft. 6 in. : but it is useless to multiply instances. 

 Beeches planted about the same time are not nearly so large. 

 The first Lord Caernarvon, who not only thus improved his 

 grounds, but also added largely to his mansion, and gave it a 

 third front to the north, died in 1812. His plans were actively 

 pursued by the late earl ; who, bringing to the task taste of 

 the highest order, added most materially to the magnificence 

 of his demesne. A large extension of Milford Water, not yet 

 completed according to his views ; the creation of the exotic plant- 

 ations surrounding it; a new line of approach to the house, the 

 alteration and improvement of which occupied much of his at- 

 tention during the latter years of his life, and were left incom- 

 plete ; and the creation of the curious collection of American 

 plants scattered through the shubberies in the pleasure-grounds, 

 are among the operations of the late Lord Caernarvon. We 

 have spoken of the magnificent cedars which adorn the lawn 

 at Highclere. The heath- mould plants, usually denominated 

 American, are not less striking. Unfavourable circumstances 

 of local climate, which hardly allow an arbutus to protract a 

 wretched existence, induced His Lordship to rely principally 

 upon rhododendrons and azaleas for the decoration of his 

 shrubberies. To extend the garden varieties, and protract the 

 flowering season of the family, became an object which, most 

 actively pursued, has been attended with uncommon success. 

 By means of hybrid intermixture, the season for these beautiful 

 flowers, beginning about the end of April, lasts till the middle of 

 July, almost three months. The very splendid rhododendrons, 

 brilliant to the highest degree with their crimson corollas, of 

 the variety obtained between the .Rhododendron arboreum of 

 Nepal and M. catawbiense, and named, by Dr. Lindley, after 

 the Doomsday name of Highclere (Alta-Clera), .Rhododen- 

 dron alta-clerense [see Bot. Reg., vol. iv. t. 1414., and VII. 

 472.*], come into flower about the third week in April, and 

 are succeeded by a multitude of splendid varieties both of 

 -Rhododendron and Azalea, ending with the crosses obtained 

 between Rhododendron maximum and Azalea autumnalis rubra. 



* In this page, Mr. Gowen, the originator of all these hybrids, is spoken of 

 as the gardener at Highclere. This is erroneous ; Mr. Gowen should have 

 been designated an amateur of gardening; Mr. Carton was the gardener at 

 the time the first hybrid rhododendrons were raised, and one variety (see 

 Hort. Brit. 29193.) is named after him. 



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