DECEMBER 24, 1898. 



GARDENERS' 



MA GA ZINE. 



847 



to go another yard. Her husband, some distance ahead, was expostulat- 

 ing with her, and offering some pointed remarks respecting the stupidity 

 of women. The lady, however, held her own, and retaliated by charg- 

 ing him with doing it on purpose. We offered consolation by remarking 

 that it would be easier coming down, but it was only received with a sharp 

 rebuff, and we did what is best to do when family happiness is at stake — 

 left them to settle it. Alton Towers is a name aptly applied, as the 

 visitor finds on reaching the mansion. It is a fine pile, containing dif- 

 ferent types of architecture, and covering a large area of ground. At 

 one point it resembles a grim Norman stronghold, and at another there 

 is the graceful elegance of a more modern style. Great towers rise at 

 every point, some square and forbidding, others highly decorated and 

 elegant in form. The outline is everywhere broken and undulating ; every 

 stone is set in a workmanlike manner ; decoration on all sides shows that 

 no expense was spared in erection, and the general attractiveness of the 

 building proves that the architectural skill was of the best. With these 

 remarks, all too brief to do justice, I leave the Towers and pass on to the 

 famous gardens. 



The main entrance to the gardens is through large iron gates, over 

 which a bridge conducts a roadway. It was on this bridge we paused — 

 as ninety-nine out of every hundred visitors would naturally do— for 

 before us lay the valley, which, for a happy blending of Nature's beauty 

 and man's genius, has probably no superior. Right in front, under a 

 covered canopy, stands the bust of a man with classic features and a 

 massive brow. Underneath runs the following inscription : " He made 

 the desert smile ; " and, simple though the words are, they have a deep 

 meaning. There stands the effigy of a great gardener, and round him is 

 his handiwork. He needs no biography or memoirs to tell of his life 

 work, for it is there all round him. The noble Earl transformed that 

 rude valley into a place of beauty, and it is only in keeping that his 

 monument should stand in the midst of his work. That man must have 

 been happy, possessed as he was with a genius, and also the facilities 

 for bringing his powers into play. His memory will live while the 

 gardens exist. Along one side of the valley are sloping banks, and 

 walks winding in and out among huge clumps of rhododendrons ; hem- 

 lock spruce, cedars and yews are dotted about, and herefend there copper 

 beech and bright-coloured acers form a relief to the surrounding greejn. 

 Thick timber forms a pleasing background, and nestling, as it were, in 

 a canopy of foliage, stands the Harper's Cottage. This is a thatched 

 structure built in Swiss style, and quite in keeping with the surroundings. 

 Leading to the depths of the valley, a cascade of water dashes from rock 

 to rock through bowers of foliage, forms itself into a pool at the bottom, 

 and then on again to yet another pool from the centre of which rises an 

 elegant iron fountain built in pagoda style. This is fed naturally from a lake 

 above, and throws up a jet of water to a great height. On again goes 

 the stream that overflows from the lower pool till it loses itself in the 

 river away down the valley. 



On the other side of the valley there is more of the artificial, and 

 terraces take the place of sloping banks. These rise one above another 

 from the depth of the ravine, and along the edges stand vases furnished 

 with flowers. Occupying a position on an eminence beyond is the 

 Temple, an elegant ornamental structure, having three balconies, from 

 which is obtained a fine view of the gardens and the towers beyond. 

 Alongside the sloping walk leading from the entrance gates is a long 

 flower border running parallel to a handsome scolloped walk which forms 

 he boundary on one side. This part of the garden was gay with dahlias 

 and other flowers. On the long border was a unicjue^attern of bedding, 

 and the well-kept appearance is evidence that all is in the care of ami^ster 

 hand. Conspicuous from the bridge where we took our stand is a fiand- 

 some range of conservatories, with dome-shaped roofs and ornamental 

 fronts. From an architect's point of view they are superb, but a gardener 

 would prefer something of a more useful type. It would be difficult to 

 imagine a more pleasing picture than the one I have attempted to portray. 

 Nature provided the groundwork, and the architect and landscape 

 gardener have done the rest. Many styles of gardening are introduced 

 to advantage. Here is a bit of Dutch, there a bit of Italian, and yonder 

 again a handsome piece of skeleton stonework on which stand the figures 

 of the Muses. The work of the sculptor is apparent in the statuary, and 

 water has been largely used in making a general effect. We stood in 

 admiration of the scene before us, lulled by the music of the rippling 

 waters, when the voice of the gate attendant below inquired whether we 

 wished to enter the gardens. 



Of course we wished to enter the gardens, and could we see Mr. 



1 1 ^ ii . . 1 1 * "i - • 1 11 xi 



his own raising, viz., Royal Chester. The fruits are medium in size, rich 

 in colour, and the plants crop freely. The fruit also is extremely fleshy, 

 and a variety possessing all these attributes is well worthy of a trial. It 

 would be wearisome to the readers of the Gardeners' Magazine to 

 attempt to drag them from hou?e to house, through kitchen garden, 

 flower garden, and pleasure ground, yet the walk with such an enthusiast 

 as the gardener at Alton Towers was full of interest and incident. 



Bedding is a big order in these extensive gardens, as, in addition to 

 catering for the tastes of the Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury, there is a 

 critical public to be considered. Well-known flowers, such as calceo- 

 larias, pelargoniums, violas, pentstemons, and so forth, are relied on, and 

 many clumps of cactus dahlias show to great advantage. In the private 

 garden immediately surrounding the mansion, and where the public is 

 not admitted, there is the same good order, and from the terrace wall one 

 obtains a fine view of the surroundings and the picturesque country 

 beyond. Not the least interesting feature of Alton Towers are the miles 

 of woodland walks and drives leading from the homestead. These divert 

 and intersect in a way quite their own, passing along timbered slopes, 

 under overhanging rocks, through shady dells, and leading— well, nobody 

 but a born native of Alton could tell you where. All these highways and 

 byways must be kept clear and in order, and add largely to the labour 

 of the gardener. But miles were traversed in visiting scenes which any 

 gardener would appreciate, and in collecting matter for these scrappy 

 notes. The September day was hot, and though the big-framed gardener 

 strode along apparently tireless other legs began to betray signs of 

 fatigue. We t arrived quite unawares by a true Alton walk, twisting and 

 meandering, at . a charming ivy-covered cottage with a tasteful garden in 

 front, arid having a view that many a millionaire would envy. " Come in 

 and have some lunch" were words that seemed to fall naturally from the 

 lips of our guide, and, as one. would naturallyiand mentally suppose, there 

 would be an introduction to Mrs. G. But, no ! let it be told in a 

 whisper— Mr. Gilman is a bachelor ; -yet one need not be long in his 

 ^omfortable home before being assured that his personal comforts are safe 

 in the hands of his able housekeeper. H. 



The Barr Daffodil Cup. 



Not satisfied with discovering, introducing, breeding, cultivating, 

 exhibiting, and selling daffodils, Messrs. Barr and Sons, of King Street, 

 Covent Garden, and Long Ditton, Surrey, have, in addition, of late 

 encouraged amateurs to exhibit daffodils at the leading spring exhibitions 

 by offering a handsome silver cup as first prize for "a collection of pro- 

 perly named varieties. No small amount of interest attached to this 

 competition during the spring of 1898, but we hope and believe that a 

 much wicler interest will be taken in the Barr competitions of 1899, 

 which are to take place at Westminster, Regent's Park, Edinburgh, 

 Birmingham, and far-away Sydney. The prizes offered are well worth 

 the winning, and Messrs. Barr and Sons are to be congratulated upon 

 their taste and enterprise in presenting beautiful silver cups, which cannot 

 fail to excite a spirited competition, and thus increase the extent and 

 interest nf the spring shows next year. As many may not have seen one 

 of the Barr Daffodil Cups, we publish an illustration of one, adding that 

 the charming design is by the celebrated flower painter, Mr. H. G. Moon. 

 N ot all the five cups are to be won by daffodils, however, for, as our 

 columns have testified from time to time, the Messrs. Barr have laboured 

 long and with considerable success to restore the beautiful English tulips 



ready 



Vr . rVi ana Very SOOn We were MidMug nanus wmi uic gciiiai tuici. 



Mr, Gilman has a high reputation as a gardener, and for many years 

 Prior to taking charge at Alton he ably managed the gardens at Ingestre 

 Hall, another of the Earl of Shrewsbury's homes. It was there he made 

 "is (Ubut as a grower and exhibitor of fruit and chrysanthemums, and 

 a lso as the raiser of several fine melons and tomatos. At the death of 

 J« late Mr. T. H. Rabone Mr. Gilman was appointed to take charge at 

 Alton Towers, and he has acquitted himself as ably as at Ingestre. He 

 js full of schemes for fresh improvements, and has already done much, 

 by the judicious cutting of over-luxuriant growth, to open out new views former important position in our gardens. 



*nd make clear the original outline of the landscape. A walk round with to trie ^ offered as a special prize for Englw 



Mr. Oilman nv^,. C r v.;c oKiiitxr 5c Miia.1 to hie ^nercrv. a<; under crlass one cuy trvhihirinn to take olace on Mav 



Thf. Barr Daffodil Cup 



we 



899 



*uwers is not by any means a convenient establishment tor a garacnci, 

 as the houses are very much scattered. These difficulties, however, are 

 ™ade light of, and everything is managed as they must be in a garden, 



II matter. ~ \. 1 { r y I- nn O nr^r,aK crcfam Mr Ci\\TS&XI 



BofS ^SSXiS^S^ dates to be presently 

 1 Jd under the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society, Ro>a! 

 Fft ^n Hort cultural Society, 'Midland Daffodil Society and the 



' ^° n,an wa,es Horticultural Society. Full particulars of the com- 



^_ ~k,,in*rl umn anolication to Messrs. Barr and hon>, 



Caledonian 



South 



matters are to be successful, that is, on a proper system. Mr. Oilman may]be obtained upon application to 



• modest man. and it was not till afterwe had admired a superb house JJU" street, Covent Garden, London. 



mmm* cxi j it w cx j jiui m ■ ~ — r 



some time that he remarked that they were of a variety 



