456 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GABDENER. 



[ December 13, 1877. 



area of the connty. Some districts are black enough, and, to 

 coin a term, are vegetably destitute, but others are both pic- 

 turesque and fertile. It is true there may be mines below, 

 but there are verdant hills and fruitful valleys above them. 

 If there are trees black and stunted in one place there are 

 splendid specimens green and luxuriant in others, and these 

 largely predominate. If one locality is dismally garnitnred 

 with coal heaps, others far more numerous smile with fruits 

 and flowers. If long rows of pitmen's cottages break the soft 

 flowing lines of the landscape and stir not the soul of the 

 artist and poet, they Bbelter many a contented, thrifty, bread- 

 earning and wealth-winning family — wealth which is seen in 

 many a stately mansion, many an extensive and well-wooded 

 park, many an excellently appointed and ably managed garden. 

 Northumberland may be a black country, but it has neverthe- 

 less a very bright side, for in few counties are the industrial 

 classes better off or the affluent more genuine and generous. 

 Some of the bright places of the county have from time to 

 time been noticed, and one worthy of being added to them is 

 Newton Hall. 



It may be said at the outset that Col. Joicey is the owner of 

 Newton Hall and an extensive tract of land surrounding it, 

 and Mr. Wardle is the gardener. The greatest honour per- 

 taining to the owner, an honour which commands the respect 

 of all men, is that he has won his position by his own efforts. 

 Laborious, persevering, and far-seeing beyond hia fellows, he 

 has risen and risen until he has found his level, and that a 

 high one. Perhaps no county has afforded more striking 

 instances of industrial and commercial successes than North- 

 umberland. Instances are afforded by names that will never 

 be forgotten, for they are indelibly engraved on the historic 

 tablets of the nation — George Stephenson and' Sir William 

 Armstrong. Equally signal, and achieved by means not less 

 honourable if necessarily more obscure, have been the successes 

 of many others, and amongst them Col. Joicey. His grand 

 inheritance is indomitable work; Mb reward, not vast pos- 

 sessions and great wealth only, hut in rendering assistance to 

 deserving objects public and private, and making those about 

 him happy and contented. 



Mr. Wardle, like his employer, is a man of ability and per- 

 severance, and is a successful representative of his calling. 

 Not only is he a skilful cultivator, but is a raiser of new plants, 

 and one, of which many gardeners know the value, bears his 

 name — Allamanda Wardleana; he has further considerable 

 competency aB a landscape gardener, as many recent improve- 

 ments in the gardens and grounds testify. Alterations have 

 for a considerable time been carried out on an extensive scale ; 

 indeed, the piece has been entirely remodelled Bince Col. Joicey 

 purchased it nine years sgo. 



One of the latest improvements has been the formation of 

 a suitable approach to the mansion. This has been a work of 

 no small magnitude, for the carriage drive is fully a mile in 

 length, proportionally broad, and traverses an undulated park- 

 like district. This fine road has not only been thoroughly 

 drained and well constructed with a sufficient depth of " metal " 

 curfaced with gravel to render it firm and clean at all times, 

 but it has been made as level as a railway by excavation — 

 lowering ihe hills and raii-ing the valleys. The margins of 

 the drive have been boldly treated and planted. The tempta- 

 tion here muBt have been gTeat to have planted a formal mixed 

 shrubbery ; but correct tas-te would have risen in rebellion 

 against the adoption of a gardeneeque style to which the sur- 

 roundings are so manifestly inappropriate. On both sides 

 of the drive the plants and Bhruba are arranged in irregular 

 groups. Hardy Heaths have been extensively employed for 

 forming a semi-wild carpet, also Periwinkles, dwarf Hypericums, 

 Ivy, and low-growing plants of that nature. There are also 

 large groups of FuTze, Broom, &c, with breadths of shrubs of 

 different kinds. Where excavations have been done the side 

 banks are p'anted with such trailing plants as Cotoneasters 

 and others of that nature, and even Brambles are not ignored. 

 Conifers are also planted in groups at appropriate intervals 

 and in suitable situations. Everything is planted closely in 

 order to cover the ground quickly and to produce a semi-wild 

 effect, which is eo pleasing when, as is the caBe here, the posi- 

 tion is suitable. Many thousands of trees, shrubs, and 

 Conifers have recently been planted on the estate, and the col- 

 lection of them is regarded as the most complete in the north 

 of England. 



This natural system of planting referred to is not altogether 

 a new feature at Newton Hall, for of older drives near to the 

 mansion the sides afford examples of the plan which may 



be said to be in a matured state. The distinct groups, irre- 

 gular thickets, and bold masses of shrubs (chiefly perhaps 

 shrubs of dwarf and procumbent growth with the striking 

 contrasting hues of foliage) produce an admirable effect — very 

 different and much more imposing than if they had been- 

 arranged on the patched and dotted system that usually pre- 

 vails. The mode of planting adopted is evidence that the 

 teachings of Nature have not been ignored, but, on the con- 

 trary, have been followed with greater freedom and fidelity 

 than is generally fashionable. Colonel Joicey will in a few,, 

 very few, years be the gainer by the adoption of this free and 

 easy style, and his gardener's reputation will be proportionally 

 enhanced. 



The mansion is a much larger structure than is represented 

 in the distant view of it as seen in the engraving. It haa been- 

 considerably enlarged, and further additions to it are con- 

 templated. Internally its fittings and decorations cannot fail 

 to arrest the attention of the observer. The paintings alone 

 have involved a cost of £80,000; they are incidentally alluded 

 to because they were brought under notice by traversing the 

 corridor leading from the conservatory which conducted uj 

 into the interior of the mansion. 



The conservatory, which is partly shown on the left of the 

 mansion (fig. 86), is noteworthy both for its size and contents, 

 also beoause it was erected by Col. Joioey's own workmen under 

 the instructions of Mr. Wardle, who supplied plans and work- 

 ing drawings of the several details. It is 140 feet in length , 

 40 feet in width, and 39 feet in height. It is encircled by a 

 gallery, to which access is had by a spiral staircase. In ap- 

 pearance it is plain yet very light, being simply a large lofty 

 span-roofed structure, the roof being supported by light pillara 

 and braced with crofs ties and girders ; these are draped with 

 climbers, which hang in festoons and contribute materially to 

 the ornamentation of the building. The more conspicuous of 

 the roof plants are Cobceaa, Paasifloras, and Taesonias, T. Van- 

 Yolxemi being represented by a variety having flowers unusu- 

 ally rich in colour. The main body of the house is occupied 

 by a large bed containing many plants which are noteworthy 

 on account of their size, cleanliness, and luxuriant health. 

 Only a few of the plants can be referred to. Those which, 

 chiefly arrest attention are perhaps the Tree Ferns. Dickaonia 

 antarcticas raised from spores by Mr. Wardle are now towering 

 specimens having a spread of fronds of 15 to 20 feet. Equally 

 fine is D. squarrosa. These are remarkable specimens con- 

 sidering their age, and are in exuberant health. A pair of 

 Cyathea dealbata are about 11 feet high, with a spread oi 

 fronds of 18 feet. Some fine Palms also command atten- 

 tion, notably splendid specimens of Chamferops Martians 

 and Fortunei. Camellia? are in remarkably fine condition; a 

 plant of Alba plena annually produces two thousand blooms. 

 The green-foliaged specimens are relieved by varif gated Yuccas, 

 Aralia Sieboldi variegata, and the conspicuous Enrya latifolia, 

 which is 7 feet high and 3J feet in diameter and excellently 

 furnished in every part ; it is highly effective. Some well- 

 grown examples of Arauearia excelsa also show to great ad- 

 vantage. The specimens noticed are planted out sufficiently 

 thinly to develope and to show their fine proportions, and their 

 good effect is enhanced by the carpet of Lycopodium denticu- 

 latnm which covers the ground. On a side stage specimen 

 ornamental-foliaged and flowering plants are arranged. 



At the end of the conservatory farthest from the mansion 

 is a fernery. It represents a wild cavernoue-like arrangement 

 of rocka with rugged passagea. Planta are arranged in appro- 

 priate nooks, and are thriving admirably. Conapicuous is a 

 fine example of Cyathea mednllaris, and Monetera deliciosa ia 

 growing luxuriantly and fruiting fr9ely. Woodwardia radicana 

 is growing in baskets asEociated with other suitable plants. 

 It ia a cool retreat — a pleasiDg change from the conservatory, 

 and is made additionally enjoyable during a Eultry day by the 

 constant trickling of water into a pool at the base of the rocks. 

 It is proposed to extend the conservatory, eo that this enjoy- 

 able fernery will be under the same roof and become a part of 

 the aame structure. 



Farther on — travelling westwards — we arrive at a large and 

 lofty structure devoted to stove plants. Some of the specimens 

 would be formidable antagonists if brought into the exhibition 

 tent. Crotona variegatum and angustifolium 10 feet high, 

 handaomely firmed and in superb health and colour, are not 

 to be slighted. Allamanda Wardleana, 7 feet by 4J — the true 

 kind — covered with flowers S inches in diameter, is not to be 

 despised. Eondeletias. Clerodendrons, and other flowering 

 plants are similarly large and fine. Palms, Dracaenas, Crotona, 



