SUPPLEMENT TO 



IV 



THE 



GARDENERS" MA GAZINE. 



Jl SK 



the labour involved. As seen from this commanding position, to again 

 quote from Jago,— . . . 



4J The late-trod plain looks like an inland sea, 

 View'd from some promontory's hoary head, 

 With distant shores environ'd ; not with face 

 Glassy and uniform, but when its waves 

 Are gently milled by the southern gale, 

 And the tall masts like waving forests rise. 



Such is the scene that from the battlements 



11 Displays its graces, intermixture sweet 

 Of lawns and groves, of open and retired. 

 Vales, farms, towns, villas, castles, distant spires, 

 And hills on hills, with ambient clouds enrobed, 

 In long succession court the labouring sight, 

 Lost in bright confusion." 



The walls of the mansion are for the most part clothed with vigorous 

 growing plants of scandent habit, chief among them being an immense 

 specimen of the Virginian Creeper, which, in taking on its autumnal 

 charms, produces a charming effect in contrast with the grey lichen- 

 stained masonry. The Austrian briars flourish with the protection the 

 walls afford, and running riot, annually produce in prodigal profusion 

 their attractively coloured flowers. On the eastern side are several fine 

 specimens of Harrisoni, which appears to be quite at home at Castle 

 Ashby, for there are several finely developed specimens trained to the 

 masonry of the large conservatory. Clematis flammula also grows here 

 with great vigour, and its drapery of green, bespangled in due season 

 with silvery star-like flowers, is pleasing at all times. 



Highly-dressed grounds surround the mansion on all sides ; on the 

 west and northern sides are the magnificent terrace gardens, while on the 

 east it is flanked by shrubberies and plantations, amid which nestles the 

 interesting church ; and on the south, as already indicated, is a fine 

 expanse of closely-shaven lawn devoted to tennis and other games asso- 

 ciated with the garden. The terrace gardens as they now exist are 

 creations of the second half of the present century, and were formed 

 about forty years ago from designs by Mr. Thomas, and are excellent 

 examples of his highly successful work. They are not the first of the 

 terrace gardens at Castle Ashby, for there is still an old plan in exist- 

 ence of a large terrace garden on one side of the mansion. When the 

 garden disappeared cannot now be stated with exactitude, but it is 

 reasonable to assume that it was swept away by Brown when engaged in 

 making alterations and improvements, for he had but little sympathy 

 with formality in the garden, On the northern side of the mansion, and 

 running its whole length, is a broad gravel walk, and from this there is 

 a gradual slope of velvety turf to the first terrace, on which is arranged 

 a geometrical flower garden in the old French style, remarkably elegant 

 in design, and of special interest as a proof of the great taste of the third 

 Marquis of Northampton, who had the terraces formed, and evinced a 

 close personal interest in the work while it was being carried out by Mr. 

 Thomas. This garden is embellished by two fountains and some closely 

 clipped trees and shrubs, and the beds, which are set in a green carpet 

 of turf, are constantly furnished with plants, as both spring and summer 

 displays of flowers are regarded as essential to the full enjoyment of the 

 garden. At the north-west corner of this terrace is the wishing well, and 

 this has much that is of interest associated with it, for it was in existence 

 when the original house, which Leland described as " now clene down," 

 was occupied. The well is now enclosed by a handsome wall, surrounded 

 by seats, and ornamented by a canopy of the grape vine. 



The lower terrace garden on the north side of the mansion has under- 

 gone considerable alterations within a comparatively recent period. It 

 has now a carpet of turf, intersected by gravel w alks, and on this have 

 been designed beds representing the rose, shamrock, and thistle, and 

 surmounted by a crown, and monograms have also been cut in the grass, 

 each one consisting of the initial letters of the names of the four late 

 marchionesses. The roses and thistles and the crowns may be assumed 

 to indicate the favours of Henry VIII. and James I., which, as so 

 strikingly exemplified in the history of the house, were fittingly bestowed. 

 Beyond the lower terrace is the laurel garden, so called presumably from 

 the large scrolls of the common laurel and the fine specimens of the 

 Portugal laurel, the standards of the last-named being especially 

 remarkable for the splendid development of their heads. There is also 

 a row of exceptionally fine standards of the Portugal laurel alongside the 

 raised walk at the end of the garden, which connects the upper and lower 

 terraces, and forms, as it were, a divisional line between the formally 

 arranged beds and the more naturally-arranged trees and shrubs that 

 separate the terrace from other parts of the grounds to the north-east, and 

 form an effectual shelter from the cold winds from that quarter. 



* rom this point a walk proceeds through the ornamental plantations 

 for a distance of about two and a half miles, and alongside this we find 

 many choice trees and shrubs and a prodigality of bulbous and other 

 flowers that have been naturalised with much success. There are also 

 some fine specimens of the Cedar of Lebanon. One of the cedars in the 

 grounds is said to be nearly one and a half centuries old, but it has 

 sunered from the ravages of time, and is now of interest chiefly for its 



the north-east corner of the terrace and within a stone's throw 

 ot the mansion is the church of Castle Ashby, and, half hidden amid 

 tne trees, the edifice presents a picturesque appearance and is of much 

 ™l!It church contains several monuments to the memory of 



; ,t r c s f ani jly by Tenerani, Marochetti, Blore, and other 



xESSuL / f ,S u als ? an effi gV 'n chain mail supposed to be that of 

 t~n h rL V h ? lord of the ma *°r about the middle of the thir- 

 i^StntS w? \ brass of William de Ermine, a rector, who was 



b^Snl mnn 3 7 ?! °'l d ? In *e churchyard is an exceedingly 



beautiful monument to the late Marchioness of Northampton, who died 



retails ateThofe ^h^VeaH ° f ^ ^ 5* 



Mr Have* all V 1 r , head gardeners immediately preceding 

 Mr. Hayes, all of whom died >n the service of their noble employers 



4. ik* 



These are 



and Mr. 



188 



services in 



this small but interesting 



W. Hardy, who died in 1867 • Mr r — " 

 Henry B.rch, i n ! 894— all of ^ ^ « 



' horticulture in d,eir daj ° m In rend ,^ val££ 



j . ; God's acre one m S th3 

 moralising, and saying, with a long-forgotten poet — Reused fo, 



" Nor youth nor beauty, nor emp'oyment hirii 

 Could grant protection from thJVde i3t 

 Of that barbarian, Death ; who, withouUbrm 

 To courts and cottages unbidden comes ' 

 And his unwelcome embassy fulfils 

 Without distinction, to the lofty peer 

 The graceful bride, or peasant's homely race." 



Immediately beyond the southern boundary of the churrhv^ i 1 

 first of a series of ornamental gardens that extend [ h«£ fl 

 and kitchen gardens. Passing through a wicket the visito crots^' 

 great breadth of turf, on which are arranged numerous trees^J 

 shrubs, remarkable for elegance of aspect or the beauty of their flow,? 

 Especially deserving of mention are fine specimens of the tulio tw2 

 cataloa. and handsome groups of weigelas, tree peonies, arbu-JJ 



On the western side is a 



shrubby spiraeas, azaleas, and rhododendrons, un tne west 

 broad belt of trees, in which are some huge beeches and 



" Whose lofty elms and venerable oaks 



Invite the rook, who high amidst the boughs 

 In early spring his airy city builds, 

 And ceaseless caws amusive." 



Immediately beyond, still proceeding southwards, is the Italian 

 garden with a conservatory of noble proportions at the north end, and 

 an architectural screen, with corridor and balcony at the southern' end. 

 The corridor affords shelcer from rough weather, or the heat of a 

 summer day, while from the balcony, which extends nearly the whole 

 width of the garden, a good view is obtained over a consider 

 able area of the pleasure grounds, and 

 the kitchen and fruit 



our illustration of the 



gardens. 

 Italian 



The 



taken from the platform 



garden 

 immediately over 



nearly 

 photograph 

 has been 



the whole of 

 from whicfc 



reproduced was 



a „ gateway, which is 



flanked by handsome pillars, and on the southern side of the wall are 



the 



spacious glass houses. As will be seen from a glance at the illustration 

 the Italian garden is divided into four equal portions by the four walks 

 that radiate from the centre, and in each of the four segments there is a 

 sunken panel with beds outlined in box and filled with coloured earth* 

 These panels, if not in accordance with the views that obtain on the 



AS 



question of garden ornamentation at the present time, are of interest 

 an example of garden decoration which was not unknown in Bacon's day, 

 and enjoyed a considerable degree of popularity nearly half a century ago. 

 The central walk has on either side vases and English yews alternately, 

 and on the cross walk there are Irish yews with vases, and near the 

 centre are specimen cupressus. Also of interest in this garden is a large 

 mulberry tree which, from its venerable appearance, must have occupied 

 its present position close upon two centuries. 



Passing through the arch at the southern end of the Italian garden 

 several distinct features attract attention. The main walk is flanked * 

 either side by a closely clipped box hedge eight or nine feet high and h* 

 or six feet through, and to the right and left are enclosed gardens 

 devoted to flowering plants. To the right is a rose garden consistini(« 

 long beds radiating from a small rockery on the north side, and clotnea 

 with attractive alpines. The beds have standard roses along the centra* 

 are filled during the summer with flowering plants that attain pc«ec«ofl ■ 

 that season, and during the winter and spring with bulbous and other ^spnn* 

 flowering plants, hyacinths, tulips, and narcissi being extensively p iamg 

 To the left of the main walk there is a spacious breadth of ^M ^^ 

 are large beds wholly devoted to carnations, and containing 

 aggregate many thousands of plants. These are grown duett) or 

 supply of cut flowers, which at Castle Ashby, as in the case • v 

 large establishments, aie in much request. Beyond the rose g» , 

 the right, is a large garden chiefly devoted to ™™™*^^m 

 cutting for indoor decorations ; and contiguous to this ; s -a * M 

 garden, with a rustic house in the centre, and with 5 re ^ 

 Crimson Rambler and Gloire de Dijon spread their 

 and produce a wealth of flowers. The sides of the ri m 

 clothed with Gloire de Dijon rose, clematis iA^ 5 ^ 10 ^^^ filled ^ 

 nudiflorum, and other hardy climbers. The t*%arccn« / 

 dwarf roses, the principal varieties being Baroness *°™* n \ , I ; aingf 

 Senateur Vaisse, Duke of Edinburgh, Old Moss, > ^' A\ c ^ td alleys 

 Charles Lefebvre. On two sides of ^JBm^J^ p*** 

 which constituted so important a feature of the ^ l ' za ^ nsion K which 

 therefore singularly appropriate in the grounds ot a J ^ ^ ^ 

 built upwards of two hundred years since. W inciw d who ji y u 

 and facing the carnation garden, is a spacious D0 ™ e * • ic5 i s so am 

 the German and other flag iris, and the collection o i vjj ^ {q affoftl * 

 prehensive and the plants so vigorous that it flowering, 

 immense amount of pleasure throughout the season o ^Unfliei 

 Hardy plants other than those already *gS^ 



_ * i_r ^ -.t_ -,_:n —A tr^e.in tite r rc^ we al* « 



and furnish a «JJJ- 



peon*. f* rc * a 



day 



aruiC 



constitute a delightful ^^g^^^ASA *• 

 material for house decoration, ine t nor = > '. , pa > 0l1I ei 



is reached, has on either side broad bordeTS / l ^? eT poppas, 

 asters, herbaceous phloxes, Oriental and ou c ? rr ir . ca ai .-~ 

 doronicums, centaureas, Chrysanthemum maximum, ir ^ K f ^ ^ 



aoronicunii, ceniaureab, ^iii ys.v'"-" 1 1 „ i )0 st 01 «*~ - . • 



pyrethrums, delphiniums, trollius, megaseas, ana coDtai0 

 things. It may indeed be said with truth that these 00 



a plants diverse and strong 



That ev'ry day their blossoms change 

 Ten thousand lovely j»u« ■ 



With budding, fading, ^.^ers, 

 They stand, the wonder of the bow 

 From morn to evening dews. 



