516 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



[ December 2G, 1872. 



but on its rich collection of plants, which, for rarity, number, 

 and diversity, is, we should think, scarcely equalled by any 

 private collection in this country. All parts of the world have 

 teen laid under contribution to increase its stores, and it may 

 fairly be said that Mr. and Lady Dorothy Nevill possess repre- 

 sentatives of nearly every ornamental stove and greenhouse 

 plant worth growing. 



In making these preliminary remarks, however, we have in 

 some measure anticipated, for it ought to have been stated 

 that Dangstein is situated on the borders of Sussex and 

 Hants, about sis miles from Petersfield, and between three 

 and four miles from Liss station on the Portsmouth Direct 

 line, whence a nearly straight road leads across a heath of 

 several hundreds of acres, and passes close to Dangstein, 

 which lies on the right. The mansion occupies an elevated 

 position, and, as will be perceived by the accompanying en- 

 graving, is in the Grecian style of architecture, with Ionic 

 columns. The principal entrance is on the north side. South- 



wards and westwards there are fine views, embracing the 

 South Downs and Hampshire hills, and northwards the Surrey 

 hills, whilst wild and woodland scenery is diversified by wide 

 stretches of cultivated land. On the southern front of the 

 house there is a broad well-kept lawn, and more to the west 

 ward a pinetum (a portion of which is seen in our view of the 

 mansion), containing many thriving specimens, though none 

 of them are of remarkable dimensions ; and on the west side 

 there is a flower garden, in which pear-shaped and scroll beds 

 form an agreeable combination. 



Passing now to the houses, which are situated to the north 

 of the house, we first entered a range of lean-to pits, 84 feet 

 long by 12 feet wide. These are partly used for plant-grow- 

 ing and partly for vegetable-forcing. One was devoted to forc- 

 ing Cucumbers, of which Sion House and Lord Kenyon's are 

 preferred for winter, but Blue Gown and other kinds are like- 

 wise grown. We also noticed a large number of Ferns from 

 Ceylon, some of which are expected to prove new, and a num- 



Dangstein. — South-west front. 



I er of plants from seed sent from the same island. Seedling 

 plants of Impatiens flaccida, with pretty lilac flowers, were 

 freely dotted about. The next compartment was chiefly occu- 

 pied with Asparagus and Dwarf Kidney Beans, while the shelf 

 at the back, as well as those in other houses, were filled with 

 Strawberry plants. There is in these pits ample provision 

 for both top and bottom heat, and in summer they are used 

 for growing Melons and other purposes. Of Pines only a few 

 are kept, and these more for curiosity than use ; there are, 

 however, several plants of the Variegated Pine Apple which 

 are very useful for decorative purposes. In a bed in one of 

 the compartments Arachis hypogaea, the Earth Nut, now so 

 commonly met with in our markets, and so largely consumed 

 by children, is successfully cultivated. As it may not be 

 known to some, it may be remarked that in this South Ame- 

 rican plant, after the flowers fall the young pods are forced 

 into the ground by the natural motion of the stalks, and are 

 thus buried. At Dangstein these pods, or "nuts," are fully 

 equal to the best of those to be found in the shops. Next in 

 order was a Peach house, a lean-to, 28 feet long and 14 feet 

 wide, with a curved trellis in front, on which are strong trees of 

 Royal George and Noblesse Peaches and a Nectarine. The 

 trees being at rest, the floor and every available space was oc- 



cupied with bedding plants, and there was likewise a quantity 

 of Mignonette. A Peach case the same height as the hack wall 

 of the Peach house, about US feet, proves very useful in pro- 

 tecting a tree of the Royal George covering nearly 500 square 

 feet of wall, as well as Endive and other salads. There were 

 also trees of the Ailantus glandulosa for producing leaves for 

 the Ailantus silkworm, in connection with which Lady Dorothy 

 Nevill's name will be familiar to our readers as having placed 

 its merits before the public, and both by precept and example 

 done much to stimulate its cultivation in this country. The 

 narrow Peach case just referred to is one of the simplest 

 structures that can well be conceived, being formed, in fact, 

 of sashes placed in front of the wall, so as to leave a width of 

 4J feet at the base, and meeting the wall at an acute angle at 

 the back. Inexpensive as it is, however, Mr. Yah-, the gar- 

 dener, thinks highly of its utility. 



We now come to a range of lean-to vineries, three in number, 

 93 feet long, 14 feet wide, 13 feet high at back, and 6 feet 

 6 inches high in front. The latest contains Muscat of Alex- 

 andria, Black Muscat of Alexandria, Black Hamburgh, Treb- 

 biano, and others. All the Grapes had been cut, and the 

 house was filled with bedding plants. The second vinery — 

 chiefly planted with Black Hamburgh and Alicante Vines — con- 



