October 13, 1870. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



28» 





supports reminded one strongly of the great improvements 

 effected in buildings of this description since they were 

 erected, for now by the use 

 of iron columns, strength, 

 lightness, and elegance are 

 combined in such a man- 

 ner as would astonish the 

 builders of those bygone 

 times. When Mr. Rabone 

 took charge of this place 

 the columns had no em- 

 bellishment but that given 

 by the hand of the archi- 

 tect. All this is now al- 

 tered, and instead of ap- 

 pearing bare naked masses 

 of stone, offending the eye, 

 and from which it was im- 

 possible to escape in any 

 part of the building, they 

 have become pillars of 

 floral beauty, and rank 

 among its most attractive 

 features. This pleasing 

 change has been effected 

 by covering the entire sur- 

 face of the sides with moss 

 mixed with a little rough 

 rich soil, the whole being 

 fastened on with wire. In 

 this covering was growing 

 with great luxuriance a 

 charming mixture of Cala- 

 diums, Begonias, Ferns, 

 Lycopods, and Trades- 

 cantia, thus clothing the 

 pillars from floor to roof 

 in a simple but most ef- 

 fective manner. Two fine 

 old Palms — one a variety 

 of Date Palm, and the 

 other a huge specimen of 

 Fan Palm, the bole of 

 which measured 5 feet in 

 circumference — are grow- 

 ing under the large dome 

 in a raised bed, the surface of which is covered with Selagi 

 nella denticula- 

 ta, interspersed 

 with a variety 

 of Caladiums 

 and Begonias, a 

 plant of Cala- 

 dium magnifi- 

 cum being par- 

 ticularly hand- 

 some. 



Along the 

 front of the cor- 

 ridors there is a 

 uniform row of 

 vases raised on 

 pedestals and 

 well filled with 

 scarlet Pelargo- 

 niums, alternat- 

 ing with the co- 

 lumns support- 

 ing the roofs. 

 Climbing plants 

 cover the back 

 wall of one cor- 

 ridor, and the 

 other is entirely 

 filled with a 

 splendid plant 

 of "Wistaria si- 

 nensis trained 

 on the wall and 

 under the roof; 

 the effect of this Fi e- 4.— Alton Towers 



must be very fine when the plant is in bloom. The end 



Fig. 2.— The Gothic Temple. 



buildings contained a healthy collection of Camellias and 



other hardwooded greenhouse plants. 



Not far from the conser- 

 vatories we come upon one 

 of those pretty scenes of 

 which there are so many 

 here, complete in itself, 

 and yet not unlike many 

 other parts of the grounds 

 in its most prominent 

 features ; it is just one 

 of those bright spots on 

 which ihe eye " loves to 

 linger," and presenting 

 itself suddenly, as it does, 

 in all its brightness and 

 beauty, one is constrained 

 to turn aside to examine 

 and admire. In the back- 

 ground, high up on the 

 bank, stands a long square- 

 shaped house filled with 

 Azaleas ; in front of this 

 opposite the centre is a 

 fountain having a curved 

 line of tall handsome spe- 

 cimens of Cypresses on 

 each side, close in front of 

 which the bank has a per- 

 pendicular descent of a 

 few feet faced by a wall. 

 Immediately in front of 

 w|j/ the fountain, and resting 

 on the top of the wall, is 

 the recumbent figure of a 

 lion, with the water from 

 the fountain passing be- 

 neath it down a pretty 

 cascade, with masses of 

 bright flowers on each 

 side, and with the whole 

 abundantly interspersed 

 with vases and statuary. 



From this terrace a walk 

 leads upwards to the screw 

 fountain, a singular taper- 



ing column of stonework, deriving its name from the spiraS 



,_ _ B .^. hollows winding 



-..._ .j, it- ^g. upwards on its 



surface; four flat 

 stones encircle 

 this at regular 

 distances, and 

 the water from 

 its summit falls 

 over the edges 

 and passes away 

 under the re- 

 cumbent figure 

 of an animal 

 down a minia- 

 ture cascade, 

 which is over- 

 shadowed by the 

 boughs of a fine 

 scarl et-leavecS 

 Oak (Quercus 

 coccinea). From 

 this point the 

 golden gate walk 

 is visible ; it is 

 a short terrace 

 walk, having a 

 row of Irish 

 Yews alternat- 

 ing with vases 

 on each side, 

 and there is a 

 stone recess at 

 the end. The 



from the Gothic Tower. bright colours 



| of a ribbon border running parallel with the walk agreeably con- 



