418 Notice of Dalvey. 



very agreeable whole. Further on is a border of -Lilium tigrinum ; on the op- 

 posite border, Zupinus polyphjilus. At right angles to this are borders of 

 common roses, right and left, terminating in an oblong sheet of gravel, whereon 

 stand two large beech trees. These trees form an excellent shade for a 

 luncheon party, for which the oblong was designed. To the left of this, by a 

 winding walk, is a small terraced flower-garden, in the face of a sunny bank. 

 On the left of the walk is a bank of rhododendrons, on the right a mass of the 

 smaller periwinkle, which is thriving in mere sand, under two large elm trees. 

 Returning from this and passing along the north wall and kitchen-garden gate, 

 we come to a main walk parallel to the one with the rose borders. After 

 passing under some shady trees, we come to the end of the paeony border, 

 which is about 300 ft. long by 20 ft. broad. Behind this is a hedge of common 

 furze, then a pathway, and afterwards a row of Cedrus Deodara, alternate with 

 Portugal laurel. In the border there are three rows of Lupinus polyphyllus 

 of different varieties ; then two rows of varieties of herbaceous pseonias ; and 

 in front two rows of the pretty little Aquilegia glandulosa. This boi'der, 

 when in bloom, is perhaps the most showy thing in the garden. At the end 

 of this, to the right, is a booth for the flowering of calceolarias, geraniums, and 

 other summer plants. This booth was devised as we were not able to show 

 off the plants to advantage in the houses, owing to their being so crowded ; 

 and it was found last season to answer admirably. The booth is the same size 

 as the tulip awning, viz. 50 ft. long by 13 ft. broad, so that the tuhp canvass, 

 which is fitted on rollers (on Mr. Weeks's plan), goes on this when it comes 

 off the tulips. The booth I shall here describe. It is merely a skeleton shed, 

 with posts, rafters, ridge bar, and wall plate, and movable wooden shutters for 

 the sides, made of very thin deal, with half-inch openings between the boards 

 to admit air. The inside is fitted with a stage of two shelves running all 

 round, and a flat top. The pathway also goes all round. The ends are 

 boarded, the same as the shutters, in which are the doorways. The subdued 

 light through the canvass shows the plants to much advantage, which you have 

 no doubt observed in Chiswick show, or other places where plants are exhi- 

 bited in a somewhat similar way. We now return to the greenhouse and 

 vinery, heated by our hot-water apparatus, on the level principle ; at the west 

 end of which is a mass of hollyhock ; at the east end the heath-pit described 

 above, backed by a plantation of young fruit trees, which forms a small orchard. 

 In front of the vinery is a grass plot, with an oval in the centre filled with 

 rhododendrons and a Magnolia purpurea. 



Several alterations and improvements are in contemplation, the principal 

 one of which will be carried into effect so soon as the weather is sufficiently 

 open, viz. planting the different sorts of the Himalaya pines at sufficient dis- 

 tances along the main walks, so that, some time hence, they will form pine 

 avenues ; the borders, walks, plants, &c., to be left until the piries form suf- 

 ficiently attractive objects to dispense with them. 



In the above rough sketch, joined to my predecessor's communication, will 

 be found the leading features of Dalvey garden, which I now submit, with the 

 permission of my most worthy employer ; than whom a more devoted admirer 

 of Flora does not exist ; who lives on and loves his native ground ; who 

 encourages horticulture in particular, and all rural affairs in general, to the 

 utmost of his power. Would that more of our landed country gentlemen 

 were of the same mind ! Then would they not only live on, but take an interest 

 in, their hereditary possessions ; giving employment to the mass of the popu- 

 lation in the improvement of their estates, to the enriching of themselves and 

 future generations ; banishing our now proverbial poverty from the land, and 

 spreading happiness and comfort through the length and breadth of our now 

 over-populated country. Then would that money be spent among us which 

 is gained on the soil, but which at present is drained off to our more favoured 

 neighbours. 



Dalvey Gardens, Feb. 1. 1843. 



