December 28, 1876, ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



555 



picturesque and possessing diversified features of natural 

 beauty. It is less than twenty years ago Binoe the late Mr. 

 James Veitoh.with that intuition for which he was remarkable, 

 selected this site for this nursery. He had probably not only 

 noted the purity of the air of the distriot and the altitude of 

 the ground over the adjacent level, but had also, in all likeli- 

 hood, observed the spontaneous growth of Holly in the hedge- 

 rows. Conifers like a pure air, they are hardily grown ou an 

 elevation, and they 

 become of the best 

 constitution in a soil 

 naturally suitable 

 for them. This trio 

 of advantages was 

 found here. Mr. 

 Veitch was also de- 

 sirous of growing 

 American plants 

 largely, and the 

 compost in which 

 these plants best 

 thrive is deoayed 

 vegetable matter. 

 What position there- 

 fore would be more 

 likely to afford this 

 than the site of an 

 old wood? A wood 

 was therefore se- 

 lected for the nur- 

 sery, Coombe Wood. 

 The jangle was pene- 

 trated and surveyed, 

 and speedily the site 

 was cleared of the 

 trees and under- 

 wood. The particu- 

 lar part chosen was 

 a great natural hol- 

 low of some, thirty 

 acres in extent, the 

 entire of which is 

 now occupied with 

 shrubs and Conifers, 

 growing as healthily 

 as oould be desired. 

 The whole of the 

 nursery, however, is 

 not in this " exalted 

 hollow." Their up- 

 per and level por- 

 tion is bounded by 

 the public road, and 

 from which the 

 passer-by cannot but 

 pause to admire the 

 towering Conifers 

 within, which are 

 very conspicuous 

 and ornamental. The 

 most striking view is 

 that down the prin- 

 cipal or centre ave- 

 nue of Wellingtonias 

 and Araucarias al- 

 ternately planted. 

 The planting of these fine specimens was directed by the late 

 Mr. Veitch and Dr. Hogg, and the growth of the trees in 

 the short period of fourteen or fifteen years is most remark- 

 able. This is not a miniature avenue, but is quite 20 yardB 

 wide and 150 yards long. The Wellingtonias are growing 

 about 8 yards apart, and the ground in front of them next 

 the walk has been so planted that the principal trees are 

 seen in their fullest beauty. At regular and wide distances on 

 both sides of the central walk are planted choice Conifers 

 of moderate growth and variegated Hollies. The ground at 

 the bases of these is carpeted with hardy Heaths, and inter- 

 spersed amongst the shrubs are Yuccas. The front liues next 

 the path are composed of Abies Clanbrasiliana and other very 

 dwarf Conifers, forming dense close rows of 2 to 3 feet in 

 height. This thin but attractive mode of planting does not 

 in the least obstruct the view of the principal trees— the 



Wellingtonias and Araucarias — which are in robust health, 

 and range from 20 to 30 feet in height. The formation of 

 this avenue and the planting of the foreground wbb well 

 conceived and oarried out. At every few yards there is a dis- 

 tinot Conifer or choice Holly to admire, and looking between 

 and above them are the handsome specimens which form its 

 most commanding feature. The Wellingtonias and many of 

 the Araucarias are singularly perfect, and the latter are never 



injured by frost. 



Arriving at the end 

 of the avenue the 

 scene changes. The 

 view is no longer 

 restricted, but we 

 look over and aoross 

 the hollow forming 

 tho principal part 

 of the nursery, and 

 cannot fail to ad- 

 mire the picture be 

 low, where nature 

 and art are effec- 

 tively combined. On 

 the opposite hill 

 are the remains of 

 Coombe Wood, the 

 masses of timber 

 trees forming an ap- 

 propriate back- 

 ground to the varied 

 and large gronpB of 

 the different-colour- 

 ed foliage of the 

 evergreens below. 

 On the right is the 

 mansion of Mr. 

 Hammersley, (with 

 the late Mr. Veitch's 

 Japanese garden in 

 front. On the left 

 the hills of Surrey 

 are visible in hazy 

 blue undulations. In 

 the centre of the 

 hollow is an irregu- 

 lar meandering 

 stream, in which are 

 growing hardy aqua- 

 tic plants, the banks 

 being fringed with 

 Bamboos , and tower- 

 ing above even then- 

 lofty canes are bold 

 clumps of Pampas 

 Grass supporting 

 hundreds of feathery 

 plumes. In the low- 

 est portion of the 

 hollow the American 

 plants are arranged. 

 Beyond and around 

 them are the shrubs, 

 and up the slopes of 

 the hill surround- 

 ing are the Conifers. 

 This arrangement 

 has been primarily adopted as best suiting the growth of 

 the respective families of shrubs, and at the same time it 

 is the most pleasing ; it is an admirable example of natural 

 grouping. 



The nursery is traversed by winding walks with graceful 

 curves, and every few yards reveal something fresh to admire. 

 Few if any straight lines appear, and even the " specimen 

 walk" has a graceful sweep. Let us pass along these twisting 

 paths and note somewhat of the nursery's contents. It must, 

 however, be a note en masse, for particular enumeration of 

 many things which are noteworthy is out of the question. 

 The specimen borders are planted with the choicest specimens 

 of deciduous shrubs and evergreens. Here are the Japanese 

 Maples, so elegant from their distinct foliage and effective 

 from their rich colours. For ohoice places in shrubberies 

 young plants of these are extremely suitable, and their effect 



Kg. 81.— Bbtihospobi obttha eBAcnis aukea. 



