December 13, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



457 



&c, are represented by healthy plants of recent introduction ; 

 for instance, Mr. WilliamB's attractive Croton Queen Victoria 

 has found its way here, and Messrs. Veitch's fine golden tri- 

 lobed variety Earl of Derby. Other plants must be passed ; but 

 one, an old one, demands notice — Cissus discolor. This plant, 

 with leaves nearly a foot in length and in rich colour, is a 

 fine feature in this house. It clothes the end wall, and for 

 the purpose for which it is employed no plant in cultivation 

 could produce a better effect. Adjoining the stove is a large 

 vinery. It is 150 feet long and wide in proportion, and at the 

 end of the vinery is a large span-roofed houEe devoted to 

 Heaths and other hardwooded plants. This important range 

 of glass, being in immediate connection with the mansioD, 

 renders the vinery somewhat incongruous, and since others 

 are now erected in the kitchen garden this house will be taken 

 down and its site be turned to an ornamental purpose. 

 At the front of this range of glass structures is the flower 



garden, which in summer is occupied with beddiDg plants of 

 the usual type ; the modern style of carpet bedding is also, 

 well carried out. Spring bedding is also adopted, and a 

 hundred thousand plants are annually provided. A teiraca 

 walk 200 yards in length conducts us past the mansion, and 

 the view from this walk is most extensive. Contiguous to the 

 walk are several acres of open lawn, which slope to the park, 

 and this in turn has a gradual descent to the lake. Beyond 

 the lake is a belt of woods, and beyond the woods a range of 

 hills — bold and extremely picturesque. The west end of the 

 terrace walk terminates in an avenue of Limes. This avenue, 

 which is 400 yards long, merges into a wildernesB walk, which 

 extends to the woods beyond the lake. 



The kitchen garden is about a quarter of a mile from the 

 mansion. It is three acres in extent and nearly new. It 

 slopes sharply to the south, and overlooks a fertile valley. 

 The prospect over this valley to the distant hills is a splendid! 



86. — Newton hall. 



one, is indeed probably unequalled by that from any kitchen 

 garden in the kingdom. The walls are being well furnished 

 with fruit trees, and the sides of the walks are wired for 

 espaliers. Very substantial provision is made for protecting 

 the fruit in this garden from bird?, for permanent three-quarter- 

 inch iron bows are affixed over the beds. These bows are 

 6 feet high for Gooseberries and 4 feet for Strawberries. They 

 have a- neat appearance, and nets thrown over them render 

 the fruit safe. The south wall of this garden is covered with 

 glass, the range being 200 feet long and devoted chiefly to the 

 cultivation of Vines, Peaches, and Nectarines. The growth 

 of the Vines and trees is of the most satisfactory kind, and 

 Royal George Peaches were gathered during the summer 

 weighing 10 ozs. Forcing pits are conveniently arranged near 

 Mr. Wardle's residence, and are in full working order. About 

 two miles of pipes are requisite for heating the Eeveral struc- 

 tures, a combined saddle and tubular boiler with water bars 

 doing its work efficiently. 



The lake has been mentioned, but it demands more par- 

 ticular notice. It is an artificial sheet of water seven acres 

 in extent. It was designed with much taste by Mr. Hancock i 

 of Newcastle, who also assisted in the formation of the principal i 

 walks and drives ; and the work was executed by Mr. Wardle, ! 

 who was also entrusted with the planting of the estate. Al- ! 

 though the lake is still unfinished it has the appearance of 



having been formed by nature and to have existed from time 

 immemorial, so skilfully has it been conceived and executed. 



But something more remains to be said in connection with 

 that lake. Its owner, a sturdy Northman who has fought 

 successfully the battle of life, is naturally an admirer of those 

 o! humble birth who have, equally with the victorious warriors 

 of notl9 lineage, deserved well of their country. Before him 

 every day he has a cherished memento of an act of true 

 heroism which of its kind is perhaps without a parallel in any 

 country. Do you see the boat moored on the placid waters of 

 the lake ? "Yes. What about it?" Look at it again ; it is 

 but a rude little cobble, but is worthy of a second glance. 

 That is an historic boat, the possession of which many might 

 be proud of owning. That boat has not always been moored 

 on the lake at Newton ; it has not always been empty ; no, it 

 has been battered by the waves of a sea as rough as eve? 

 foamed, and has been manned by a form as gentle and brave 

 as ever breathed. It has more than once snatched precious 

 lives from the jaws of death, and deprived the angry sea of its 

 victims. One of the crew of that boat performed a dsod — 

 a daring benevolent deed — which excited the admiration of 

 "England and the Isles," which gained for the humble 

 individual who manned it the friendship of a noble duchess,. 

 and obtained a personal tribute of approbation from our present 

 Queen. A broken plank from that boat has been divided into 



