206 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
{ September 12, 1878. 
trees, which for size and health are seldom excelled in inland 
grounds, while at Ashburne the sea is not more than ten minutes’ 
walk distant. Sycamores appear to do best of all, followed 
by Elms and Beeches, of all which there are fine specimens ; 
Turkey Oaks likewise thrive at Ashburne. 
Ascending by winding steps the south front of the mansion 
is reached. The supporting stone wall of the terrace is balus- 
traded to suit the architecture of the mansion without intro- 
ducing vases at the angles, which, as we usually see them filled 
with Geraniums and other flowering plants, are only so many 
blemishes, interposing as they often do between the eye and 
picturesque scenery. The terrace is disposed in grayel with a 
flower border next the house and flower beds on grass at the 
east end of the house. Four Agaves disposed in tubs upon the 
gravel break the monotony of the balustrade, and the flower 
border and beds form no part of the “look-out,” which from 
the terrace is such as few town gardens (this is, strictly speak- 
ing, a town garden) afford. 
The terrace border in front of the house has a ground of 
Cerastium tomentosum, in which diamond beds are formed ; 
planted—l, yellow Calceolaria; 2, Geranium (scarlets) ; 
3, Viola Perfection, and so on throughout; 4, Arabis varie- 
gata, with centre of Coleus Verschaffelti. The corner beds of 
tke flower garden are also amongst the neatest we have seen. 
The borders at the west end of the mansion are effectively 
planted, and the centre bed (jig. 33) is the most attractive 
bed of its kind we have seen this season, and is planted as 
follows :—1, Specimen Echeveria retusa; 2, Alternanthera 
amcena ; 3,Sedum acre; 4, Mrs. Pollock tricolor Pelargonium ; 
5, Lobelia Ebor : 6, Pyrethrum Golden Feather ; 7, All the “‘ bar” 
lines and edge Echeveria secunda glauca. 
Leaving the terrace at the west end a flight of steps lands 
us in front of the conservatory, a very elegant and substantial 
structure 50 feet in length, 31 feet in width, and 26 feet in 
height, having a curvilinear roof with ample means of yenti- 
lation, altogether reflecting great credit upon the builders, 
Messrs. J. Boyd & Son, Paisley. The pathway up the centre, 
§ feet in width, is laid with encaustic (Minton’s) tiles of elabo- 
rate design, with a widened centre. In the borders are many 
valuable plants, Dicksonia antarctica with 8 feet stem and a 
spread of fronds of 15 feet ; Date Palm (Phceenix dactylifera), 
15 feet over; Chamerops Fortunei, 16 feet high and 12 feet 
through ; C. humilis, 12 feet in height ; Draczna australis, 
16 feet high ; D. Veitchii, 20 feet high, both having heads 
upwards of 10 feet in diameter; Araucaria excelsa, a per- 
fect cone, 18 feet high and wide ; Phormium tenax variegatum, 
7 feet high and 9 feet across; Musa ensete, with leaves 
12 feet long ; in addition to many other plants of like majestic 
proportions, such as Alsophila excelsa, Seaforthia elegans, 
Pheenix sylvestris, and a good specimen of the Traveller's Tree 
(Ravenala madagascariensis), with its fine Musa-like leaves, 
the base of their footstalk being accompanied by a sheath that 
contains fresh water with which travellers in the plant’s habitat, 
Madagascar and India, quench their thirst. Permanent-flower- 
ing plants are represented by Camellias, and the roofis clothed 
with Tacsonia insignis, Lapagerias, &c. ; Heliotropes, Maréchal 
Niel Roses, and other plants acceptable from their fragrance 
not being omitted, Fuchsias decorating the pillars. 
In front of the conservatory is an herbaceous garden in the 
form of a circle with a border all round, the centre being dis- 
posed in beds in the geometrical style, and filled with her- 
baceous and alpine plants from the treasures of the Messrs. 
Backhouse & Son, York. The outer border is replete with the 
taller kinds interspersed with Roses, annuals (which make a 
charming display), and grand masses of Pampas Grass. Among 
the plants in beauty at the end of July were Campanula 
Hendersoni, Calochortus luteus var. oculatus, Ajuga repens 
variegata, Lychnis alba plena, L. Viscaria, Ginothera macro- 
carpa, Phlox frondosa, Polygonum Brunonis, Statice latifolia, 
Veronica rupestris, Alstrémeria aurea, Epimedium alpinum, 
Pulmonaria sibirica, Saponaria ocymoides. Veronica saxatilis, 
Achillea umbellata, Aquilegia gigantea, Campanula turbinata,. 
Dianthus deltoides, Linum narbonense, Oxalis Bowieana. 
Saxifraga serrata, and S. serrata elegans. Violas Duchess 
of Edinburgh (white) and Duke of Edinburgh (deep blue) 
were noteworthy from their purity of colour, good form, 
great substance, and floriferous character; a splendid pair. 
Too much cannot be said in eulogy of this style of ornamental 
gardening, unfolding as it does fresh beauty from day to day. 
Gardens of flowering shrubs, low shrubs, herbaceous and 
alpine plants interspersed with annuals and other summer 
decorative plants, really produce a very effective display, there 
being always something fresh to awaken attention and keep 
alive interest—ever something or other to study and admire. 
An octagon summer house fitted up in a very elaborate manner, 
embowered by trees, stands at a little distance from the walk by 
which we descend from the herbaceous garden to the pleasure 
ground, of which a capital view is had of the trees and shrubs 
that deck its slopes, such as Chestnuts, Purple Beeches, standard 
Rhododendrons (which being in pots can be lifted for the con- 
servatory during bloom), Pinus austriaca, Arbor-Vitzs, Weep- 
ing Ash, Thorns of kinds, Evergreen Oaks, Aucubas, &c., taste- 
fully disposed upon the turf. At the bottom of the incline we 
take a turn to the left, and the beauty of the place is spread 
before the eye in all its loveliness. Over the fountain, throw- 
ing its silvery spray, a good view of the grounds is obtained, 
to which the artist has done no more than justice in the accom- 
panying engraving. From the grounds we pass over the Ryhope 
road to the kitchen garden, an enclosure of four acres. To. 
the north and west are disposed a few deciduous trees which 
serve the purpose of ornament and shelter, yet not materially 
interfering with the cropping. 
In this department are the principal glass structures. They 
are erected about the centre of the garden, and are rather 
extensive. The first house entered was a vinery 30 feet by 
20 feet, all the vineries being of the same width and much of 
the same length—lean-to’s. In this house were admirable 
examples of Black Hamburgh black as sloes, the berries large ; 
some we measured were 3% inches in circumference, though 
the Vines were close upon twenty years under cropping, the. 
bunches being about 2 Ibs. weight. Golden Hamburgh was 
grand, Mr. Crament, the able gardener, being very successful 
with this too frequently condemned Grape; the bunches are 
large, 5 tbs. in weight, and the berries 33 to 3} inches in 
circumference. Mrs. Pince is represented by bunches of about 
3 tbs. weight, well coloured, and without any small berries, this. 
favourable result being attributed to working this desirable 
Grape upon the Black Hamburgh. Splendid fruit of Black 
Prince and Grizzly and White Frontignan is also noticeable 
both in respect of size of bunch and berry. The next house 
contains three-year-old Vines. Lady Downe’s is in capital 
trim; Trebbiano is 18 inches across the shoulder and 12 inches 
long, weight about § tbs. ; Black Alicante, symmetrical bunches, 
reversed cones, 12 inches by 12 inches, weight about 43 Ibs. ;. 
and Gros Guillaume (Barbarossa), 163 inches across the shoulder 
and 12 inches long, about § tbs. In this house are some oid 
Vines of Muscat of Alexandria lifted nineteen years ago, now 
carrying good crops of amber-coloured fruit ; the bunches are 
-about 3 tbs. in weight. There is also Mr. Crament’s seedling 
Grape Ashburne Seedling, which produces a bunch after the 
style of Alicante, averaging from 2 to 4 tbs. in weight, but when ¥ 
fully ripe is of the rich golden hue of Golden Hamburgh, 
setting very freely. its bearing properties being all that could 
be desired, whilst it keeps as long as Lady Downe’s. We had 
no opportunity of testing its quality, but Mr. Crament stated 
that he had instructions to plant a house of it, which denotes. 
the estimation in which it is held by those best qualified to 
judge. 
: The next house contains young Vines not in fruit, but haying 
canes like cudgels and eyes like nuts, the joints short and the 
foliage ample ; all the foliage, lateral or otherwise, is retained 
| that can be fully exposed to light. It is a late house planted 
