August SI, 1876. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



189 



stirring and all nature appears hushed in repose, is the season 

 when the shrill chirp of the cricket is heard striking somewhat 

 discordantly on the perfect quiet of the air, which oan scarcely 

 be said to be disturbed by the trumpetings of the innumerable 

 gnats, 



" Which, drawn by milky steams at evening hours, 



In gather'd swarms surround the rural bowers. 



"What time the gladsome nymphs in chorus sung, 



Eose-gilded legions glittered in the sun." 

 When the corn is gathered and the harvesters rest for a 

 while from their labours the work of the sportsman begins ; but 

 on the breezy hill sides and among the purple heather on the 

 moors, where, during the still warm days, the grouse and the 

 plover have reared their young broods, the report of the death- 

 dealing gun is heard, and terror and dread reign where so 

 lately all was peace and happiness. 



We see the changes of the month as each follows each in 

 turn ; we note the distinguishing plants that come and go — the 

 insects that are awakened to life in the spring, that buzz 

 during Bummer and disappear during autumn — while we almost 

 forget tbe little flower with silver crest and golden eye which 

 blooms always and everywhere, which " hides in the forest, 

 haunts tbe glen," grows along the margin of the dusty road, 

 blooms undisturbed over the graves of those who rest in peace 

 in God's acre, and ever perks up its little head on every 

 trodden spot in close vicinity to towns and cities. 



" 'Tig Flora's page — in every place, 

 In every season fresh and fair ; 

 It opens with perennial grace, 

 And blossoms everywhere. 



-T. S. J. 



' It smiles upon the lap of May, 

 To sultry August spreads its charms, 

 Lights pale October on its way, 

 And twines December's arms." 



WOLLATON HALL. 



THE BESIDENCE OF H. AKEOTD, Esq. 

 Wollaton Hall is situated about two miles and a half west 

 of Nottingham. It occupies a commanding position, and can 

 be seen in almost every direction. It is in the centre of a grand 

 old park of seven hundred acres, which is enclosed with a brick 

 wall from 7 to 10 feet high. The Hall is approached from 

 Nottingham either by the way of Lenton or by Old Radford, 

 the latter affording the readiest access to the gardens. The 

 Lenton entrance is by a lodge of commanding proportions, and 

 in character with the noble structure within the grounds. 



It is impossible to approach the mansion on either side with- 

 out being struck with its magnificent proportions and the rich- 

 ness of its details. It is supposed to be one of tbe most beautiful 

 mansions of " England in the olden time." It is entirely 

 built of freestone, which came from Ancaster in Lincolnshire, 

 on the backs of horses, in exchange for coal produced by the 

 mines of the estate. The building is square with four large 

 towers adorned with pinnacles, and in the centre the body of 

 the house rises higher, with projecting coped turrets at the 

 corners. The front and sides are adorned with square pro- 

 jecting Ionic pilasters. The interior is on a grand scale, has 

 many stately apartments, and contains a very extensive and 

 valuable collection of paintings by the best masters. Every 

 front of the main building and every side of every tower is 

 richly decorated, so as to present a very superb whole. The 

 park is broken into gentle swells, and in some parts is beauti- 

 fully wooded, admitting some picturesque and extensive views 

 of the surrounding landscape. It is well stocked with deer, 

 and from the flower garden is seen a fine Bheet of water en- 

 livened with swans and other aquatic birds. 



Passing by the west side of the Hall there is a sunken way, 

 which lies between the Hall and the stables, and being over- 

 hung with shrubs and trees it is entirely hidden from view. 

 This road leads to the large conservatory at the south-west 

 corner of the Hall, and the flower garden in front falling 

 gently towards the park. Between the conservatory and the 

 gravel walk there is a broad ribbon border filled with spring 

 flowers, and though when seen it was past the middle of June 

 it was a sheet of floral beauty. Beginning at the back there 

 were two rows of Cliveden Blue Pansy, then two rows of Viola 

 lutea followed by two rows of red Daisies, then a row of 

 Arabis variegata, next a broad band of Aubrietia, succeeded by 

 a row of Saxifraga umbrosa with another row of Golden Feather 

 Pyrethrum, then Sempervivum ealifornicnm, and the outside 

 row of Saxifraga hypnoides. The flower beds were also all 

 aglow with spriDg flowers, and for general effect Mr. Gadd 



depends more on Pansies than any other plants. There were 

 many mixed beds, but Pansies were the chief feature. I noticed 

 one large bed of Pansy Purple Prince, very effective ; another 

 of Purity, equally good ; another of Chrome Yellow, all masses 

 of bloom. Then there were several beds filled with dark seed- 

 ling Pansies which were very gay and attractive. Other beds 

 were filled with Daisies of sorts, Aubrietias, Golden Pyrethrum, 

 Imperial Blue Pansy, and the Variegated Thyme. Among the 

 many plants U6ed for the embellishment of the spring garden 

 there is none more effective than the Variegated Thyme, 

 Thymus citriodorus aureus marginatus. On a narrow strip of 

 grass that skirts the park I observed several long narrow beds 

 planted so as to match with each other. The outside row was 

 Veronica incana, with an inner circle of Aubrietia, next Golden 

 Pyrethrum, then a ring of Forget-me-not, and the centre Wall- 

 flowers. The flower garden is well sheltered on each side^by 

 banks of evergreens and Rhododendrons, the front of it being 

 open to the park. 



Turning into the conservatory I found a fine collection of 

 Camellias planted in the borders, many of them being 8 and 

 10 feet through and 10 and 11 feet high. I cannot enumerate 

 all the noble specimens, but amongst them were Chandleri 

 13 feet high, Countess of Orkney, Mathotiana, Mathotiana 

 alba, Contest a Lavinia Maggi, Lady Hume's Blush, Imbricata, 

 Double White, and many others. From Ihe roof was suspended 

 tbe charming Marechal Niel Rose, Bignonias and Tacsonias. 

 To the left of the conservatory is the Rose garden, but I was 

 there too soon to see the Roses in beauty. This garden is 

 encircled with Rhododendrons, which were in full bloom, and 

 these were backed with fine old Cedars of Lebanon, which 

 were interspersed with Lucombe Oaks and grand old Yews. 

 Following this walk we come to a fine piece of open lawn, 

 studded here and there with excellent specimens of Cupressus 

 Lawsoniana and one or two specimens of Purple Beech that it 

 would be difficult to surpass. Coming to the terrace walk, on 

 the left there is a broad bank of Rhododendrons about 9 feet 

 high and 10 or 12 feet wide, and now arid then a white Broom 

 jutted out from amongst the dark foliage and mass of bloom; 

 and down tbe centre is a row of standard plants of Acer Ne- 

 gundo variegata. At the termination of this walk a fine 

 prospect opens on the vision. There are avenues of Elms 

 and Limes radiating in various directions, with the deer re- 

 clining beneath their umbrageous branches, giving the whole 

 scene a charming park-like appearance. Turning to the left 

 we ascend the upper terrace, and now the fine architectural 

 proportions of the mansion come out in all their magnificence. 

 In proximity to the mansion I observed some venerable Oaks 

 and Cedars, and one copper-coloured Beech was 225 feet in 

 the circumference of its branches. In the park is an evergreen 

 plantation consisting of Piceas, Wellingtonias, and other choice 

 Conifers, each having been planted by some member of Lord 

 Middleton's family. 



The kitchen gardens and forcing departments are some little 

 distance from the mansion. Near Mr. Gadd's residence is a 

 fine piece of pleasure ground surrounded with Rhododendrons, 

 which at the time of my visit were a mass of glowing beauty. 

 Among the most conspicuous of them I noticed Lady Eleanor 

 Cathcart, Luciferum, Nero, Brutus, Blandyanum, Alarm, Van- 

 dyke, catawbiense fastuosum, C. Everestianum, and many 

 others equally good. 



We now pass on to the large conservatory, which is 15 or 

 18 feet high and 75 feet long. Besides Camellias I noticed a 

 fine plant of Araucaria Cunninghamii, large Azaleas, and a 

 general collection of greenhouse plants. In front of this con- 

 servatory there is a large herbaceous garden, and here many 

 favourite old plants are petted and cared for. There was the 

 beautiful Spircea Douglasii with its dense plumes of white 

 flowers ; Aquilegia glandulosa, one of the moBt beautiful plants 

 of the genus ; Anthericum Liliago, a pretty free-flowering per- 

 ennial, with grass-like foliage and numerous spikes of white 

 flowers ; Lithospeimum prostratum, a fine plant for the hardy 

 flower garden ; Phloxes, Delphiniums, double Pyrethrums, 

 plants of great beauty ; large Azaleas, Pieonies, Potentillas, 

 and Dodecatheon Meadia. The walls of the old conservatory 

 were draped with Magnolias, Wistarias, and Chimonanthus 

 fragrans. 



Pursuing our journey we reach the kitchen garden. The 

 walls are all cloDhed with beautifully trained fruit trses, and 

 the various flats were teeming with luxuriant vegetables. 

 There are several walls devoted to Apricots, which are pro- 

 tected in spring with broad coping boards resting on projecting 

 brackets at the top of the wall. Peaches, Pears, and Plums 



