5*4 



JOUBNAL OF HOBTIOULTDBB AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ December 21, 1876. 



and trailing plants. On the more level part of this varied 

 surface there are many noble specimens of trees and shrubs. 

 The undulations terminate in one direction in a mound upwards 

 of 100 feet high, and although artificial, it is so managed that 

 it seems to be quite natural, and it acquires its naturalness 

 and its beauty from the soundest rules of art in the formation 

 and the planting. 



The shady walks and sool retreats whioh necessarily accom- 

 pany this picturesque style were a oonstant souroe of enjoy- 

 ment to the late Prince Consort when staying at the Palace. 

 Some of the walks are quite arehed over with Laburnums, 

 Honeysuckle, Guelder Boses, and scarlet-flowering Thorns, 

 whieh were planted by the Prinoe's hand, and among and 

 under these he would oftimes lead his children at early dawn 

 to hear the song of the thrush or the blackbird. The Prinee 

 was intensely fond of birds, and these gardens are numerously 



peopled by the feathered songsters, for it was a plaee of privilege 

 to them. Not a nest was ever knowingly disturbed, and it was 

 the oonstant aim of the Eoyal father to teaoh his children to 

 show tenderness to helpless oreatures.and it has been exempli- 

 fied in all the Boyal Family. The ohildren were also taught to 

 take an interest in flowers, and had eaoh their own little gar- 

 den, whioh was a souroe of great delight to them, where they 

 learnt the names of those flowers whioh were dear to them, 

 because themselves had planted, watered, and watehed them. 

 Healthy exeroise in gardening is indeed reoreation, natural, 

 simple, and pure, whioh may be enjoyed in^all stages of sooiety 

 from the prince to the peasant, bringing blessings to the palace 

 and peace to the eottage. Gardening improves the heart as 

 well as the taste ; it refreshes the body and lightens the spirits, 

 and the more refined the taste the more exquisite the gratifica- 

 tion that may be enjoyed in every cherished garden. 



Fig. 77.— BCCEIMQHAM PALACE GABTIEK. 



Bedding plants are of course used in the Buckingham 

 Palace gardens, and some of the most agreeable effects are 

 those produced by isolated masses or small groups of detached 

 beds, whioh afford scope for only a few simple colours. There 

 is, however, a geometric garden proper, whioh consists of a 

 grand circular soheme of nineteen beds which I have seen 

 effectively arranged, planted with choice and suitable plants, 

 and kept with scrupulous oare. 



The conservatory is on the north side of the Palace, and, 

 like it, lacking elegance, and unfortunately not at all well 

 adapted for the growing plants, and to keep it in good order 

 the plants must be frequently changed. I have seen it look 

 very beautiful in the autumn with Chrysanthemums of both 

 the large varieties and Pompons, grouped with specimen shrubs 

 and fine-foliaged plants so as to form the most attractive 

 features of a picturesque scene, in which they appear to greater 

 advantage than when exhibited by themselves. 



The Chrysanthemum is a favourite flower of all classes, and 

 it is one of the flowers admired by our Queen ; Chrysanthe- 

 mums are therefore extensively grown out of doors in these 

 gardens. They peep up amongst the shrubs, fringe the walks, 

 cover the banks, and make the whole place gay as if wholly 

 devoted to this autumnal flower, whioh it is not, for there are 

 displays of all kinds as the seasons revolve. Let it suffioo, 

 then, ;,that horticulture is fairly represented. Mr. Humphrey, 



late gardener at White Lodge, Richmond Park, is the gardener 

 at Buckingham Palace. He was appointed about three years 

 ago, and suoceeded the late Mr. George Wyness who died in 

 harness, and like him is a very, estimable man. — N. Cole, 

 Kensington. 



MUSCATS ON THE EXTENSION SYSTEM. 



I his long ago cherished a notion that I could grow Musoat 

 Grapes if I only had an opportunity to do it my own way, 

 and six years ago suoh an opportunity presented itself with 

 the result shown in the engraving. 



The Vines were planted on the 22nd of June, 1870, and had 

 been raised from eyes the same season. They were placed 

 about 7 feet apart on each side of the house ; they all grew well, 

 and carried a bunoh or two the year after planting. This 

 was more to check over-luxurianoe than for the sake of the 

 fruit, as we had Vines planted temporarily along the centre of 

 the house for supplying fruit at first. The permanent Vines, 

 notwithstanding rather heavy cropping and root-pruning, grew 

 very vigorously, and two years ago it was a question whether 

 to go on mutilating them still more severely, or destroy some 

 of them and allow those remaining to have a more natural 

 extension. I decided on the latter method. A Vine near each 

 of the four corners of the house was brought down to a hori- 



