60 Notes 071 Gardens and Coimtry Seats : — 



a cradle fence. Instead of this, the trees have been planted in 

 the common soil of the heath or waste, without any stirring or 

 preparation of the soil ; and they are only protected by a small 

 hillock of earth heaped up round the root of each tree, and by 

 tying thorns round each stem. Where economy is the great 

 object, this may be allowable, since trees even so planted are 

 better than no trees at all ; but here we cannot but consider 

 it as highly discreditable to the town. 



Page's Botanic Gardeti and Nursery. — August 23. The Bo- 

 tanic Garden is situated in the town ; and, though small, con- 

 tains an astonishing collection of herbaceous plants, including 

 the newest sorts, and very many green-house and hot-house 

 exotics. We here found the best collection of lobelias and 

 perennial delphiniums which we have ever seen, /delphinium 

 Goxmevdnuni (after the Misses Garnier of Wickham) was 

 remarkably fine. We were surprised at the enthusiasm of Mr. 

 Page in bestowing so much labour on the culture of exotic 

 aquatics on dung beds, in the manner done in former times by 

 Mr. Kent of Clapton. [Encyc. of Gard., new edit., § 6218.) 

 Mr. Page has flowered, in this manner, Nelumbium speciosum, 

 and all the exotic species of iVymphie'a ; and, for the first time, as 

 we believe, in England, Pontederm crassipes, which bears a 

 flower resembling that of i^hododendron arboreura. To bring 

 the Ponteder/a into flower, Mr. Page removed all the runners, so 

 as to strengthen the main plant. All the old varieties and species 

 of Geraniacese, many of which are not now to be had about 

 London, together with some fine new seedling varieties raised 

 by Mr. Page, are here cultivated. Jacquinm aurantiaca is now 

 in flower, as is Convolvulus Z»ryoni8efolius and althaeoides, in the 

 open garden. Most conservatory plants stand out during winter 

 in this garden. In a narrow passage leading to it from Mr, 

 Page's shop are a number of specimens of choice climbers and 

 trees and shrubs ; which, though shaded by a high wall from 

 the direct influence of the sun, are yet benefited by a white- 

 washed house, which receives its rays, and reflects them on the 

 plants in the passage. The walk along this passage is formed 

 by a mixture of gravel and tar sanded over, somewhat in the 

 manner of Lord Stanhope's composition. 



Mr. Page's Nursery is on the outskirts of the town ; and is 

 remarkably well laid out in compartments, and sheltered by 

 hedges. Here is a general collection of fruit trees planted along 

 the walks, as stock plants for scions ; and vine stools for the 

 same purpose. Mr. Page is making preparations for a complete 

 arboretum, in the manner of that of Mr. Donald, which, we 

 are sure, will be of immense service to this part of the country, 

 by showing to the resident gentlemen those sylvan treasures 

 hitherto known only to botanists and landscape-gardeners. Mr. 



