308 



JOUBNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ October 20, 1870-. 



ary, and part of the gTand 

 tration will serve, perhaps 

 better than any other, to 

 convey to your readers 

 some idea of the rich va- 

 riety of the works of art 

 with which these gardens 

 abound, and the various 

 aspects under which the 

 same features of the place 

 may be viewed from dif- 

 ferent points. As another 

 fine example of this, Jig. 6, 

 presenting a glimpBe of 

 Alton Towers from the 

 lower terrace, may be al- 

 luded to here. 



Some beds of tropical 

 plants near the bath gar- 

 den were very good ; 

 amongst them were some 

 fine masses of various 

 kinds of Ricinus, Sola- 

 num robustum, with hand- 

 some folisge, which, to- 

 gether with the yellow 

 stems, was thickly studded 

 with sharp spines ; Sola- 

 num Warscewiczii was 

 also very fine. None of 

 the pretty AlternaDtheras 

 had succeeded very well 

 here, but I am glad to say 

 Mr. Rabone purposes giv- 

 ing them another trial. 



Along the side of the 

 walk leading to the lower 

 terrace, a novel and pretty 

 effect was produced by 

 training Roses on a trellis 

 of low iron arches, be- 

 tween every two of which 

 were pretty little vases 

 containing interesting 

 masses of compact dwarf 

 plants. The Roses were 

 not kept trim and close, 

 but were to a certain ex- 

 tent suffered to present a 

 wild rambling appearanee 

 by no means unpleasing. 

 The numerous fine speci- 

 mens of the beautiful 

 Hemlock Sprnce (Abies ca- 

 nadensis), scattered along 

 these lower slopes are very 

 attractive and graceful 

 objects. 



Glimpses of the pagoda 

 (fig. 7), may be had from 

 many different points, and 

 it is, consequently, seen 

 under a variety of aspects. 

 From the Gothic temple 

 its top is just visible 

 through the trees ; from 

 the conservatory terrace it 

 presents itself in a very 

 favourable guise ; but it is 

 when we reach the sheet 

 of water in which it stands 

 down in the vallev, that 

 the singularity "f this I 

 oriental structure may i 

 be best appreciated. The 

 position is admirably 

 choEen, for the bright co- 

 lours and gilding wilh 

 which the pagoda is decked 

 out, tell well against the 

 masses of dark-leaved Firs 

 behind ; the descending g 



conservatories (fig. 5). This illus- 



5-— The Concervatories and Alcove. 



£a 



thrown upwards from iis top adds to the effect of this nn- 



common scene. 

 fc^pi Ascending the right side- 



p^« of the valley by winding 



walks and flights of steps, 



about halfway up a seat is 



Cr fceffi E i lBL plaoed, close by some mag- 



_ - S^""__ nifieent pyramidal speci- 



"! V mens of English Tews, the 



fine proportions of which 

 do great credit to the care 

 and skilful pruning which 

 must have been constantly 

 bestowed on them. 



Coming up from among 

 the trees to this spot, on 

 turning to the opening left 

 between two of these taper- 

 ing Yews, which, with their 

 companions, are so dark, 

 solemn, arjd massive, and 

 beholding the splendour 

 of the scene, of which, per- 

 haps, more can be realised 

 at a glance here than from 

 almost any other position, 

 we fancy ourselves gazing 

 through the portals of 

 gloomy night out on the 

 brightness of the dawn. 



" For eight ro obstacle finds 

 here, nor shade, 

 But all sunshine." 



The eye, soothed and 

 rested by the greenery of 

 the banks, the overhanging 

 boughs, and the densely 

 packed foliage shutting 

 in the path by which we- 

 ascend, 



" Looks down with wonder 



at the sadden view, 

 * * * As when & 



scout, 

 Throngh dark and desert 



ways with peril pone 

 All night, at last by break 



of cheerful dawn 

 Obtains the brow of some 



high climbing hill, 

 Which to his eye discovers 



unaware 

 The goodly prospect." 



The Gothic temple peep- 

 ing out of the trees, the 

 pagoda, the conservatories, 

 and the alcove, all are 

 visible from here, and I 

 was forcibly reminded of 

 the large engraving in 

 Loudon's " Encyclopae- 

 dia." The scene* there 

 pourtrayed was before me 

 in its most important de- 

 tails, recalling many a 

 boyish dream, for often 

 when studying the pages 

 of that masterly work have 

 I lingered over "that picture 

 of wonderland so marvel- 

 lously fair. 



Higher up, the hillside 

 is clothed with vast nnm- 

 bers of Rhododendrons in 

 fine health and vigour, 

 seedlings from them grow- 

 ing with the freedom of 

 weeds. The walks wind 

 upwards in the most pic- 

 turesque manner imagin- 

 able, diverging in various 

 directions, sometimes by 

 Fern banks alternating or 



Fig. 6. — Alton Towers from the Lower Terrace, 

 y from the single jet of water | mingling with the Rhododendrons and shrubby undergrowth of 



