March 13, 1885. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
237 
additions, however, are all of the castellated order of architecture, and even 
now it smacks somewhat of a “frowning keep.” The situation is a low 
one, and on one side the ground rises steeply. This elevation is on the 
west side of the Castle, and the view from a Wellingtonia, which is 74 feet 
high, and 15 feet (1 inches in girth 3 feet from the base is very fine. At 
your feet is the deepening stretch of greensward, flawlessly planted. In 
the hollow are the turrets, some of them Ivyclad, of the Castle. Many of 
the trees here deserve mention. A tall drooping Abies morinda, with one 
or two of the pendulous branches over 5 feet, is both imposing and attrac¬ 
tive. A variegated Wellingtonia was also very pretty in September. 
Contrast is afforded by Pinus insignis, Taxodium distichum, and Thuja 
occidentalis pendula. On the north and east side there are Cedars of 
Lebanon close up, an avenue of them. On the east side also is situated the 
flower garden, which is cut off by a battlemented wall from the park. The 
bedding-out was extremely well done; the designs were graceful, and the 
colours very diverse. 
The park has a very undulating surface, and is thickly planted not only 
with deciduous trees but also with evergreen Conifers. The Wellingtonias 
may be set down as a failure, and are getting brown and weary-looking. 
This is most likely owing to the shallowness of the soil. The tall one men¬ 
tioned above is, however, still vigorous. The Lebanons and Capressus 
macrocarpa are thriving excellently. Another failure, but in this case more 
in the pleasure grounds, is Picea Pinsapo. Mr. Powell, Lord Devon’s head 
gardener, attributes their sickly condition to a severe winter coming between 
two dry seasons. The highest eminence in the park is called Belvidere. 
Upon it has been erected a tower as an observatory. The view from it 
covers a wide stretch of country in every direction. Southward can be 
seen the broad river of Exe and its confluence with the Channel. By its 
banks are rich meadows and verduous parks, notable among the latter 
being Nutwell Court, the whilom residence of “ Franky Drake.” Northward 
are the towers of Exeter and the historic village of Topsham, which fur¬ 
nished more ship3 in the formation of the fleet to withstand the Armada 
than any other port except London. Westward are the wooded heights of 
Haldon. The panorama thus includes hills, sea, broad river, and busy town ; 
and immediately below is as noble a park as mortal ought to covet. 
If you start from the castle and keep along above the site of the kitchen 
garden you come to a part of the grounds that is quite Devonian. It is a 
series of drives through lofty Beech woods. Branching off at a distance 
down of some 200 or 300 yards, quite a different scene is entered. A 
slow-flowing but gleaming river glides peacefully by mossy lawns. Over¬ 
hanging the water, and dabbling their lowest branches in it, are Cedars of 
Lebanon that have warred with the elements long and triumphantly. The 
lawn slopes up to the high Beech woods and carries on its sustaining soil 
many a clump of Rhododendron and the “airily climbing Fir.” There is 
nothing so neat, and perhaps nothing so pretty, as such a scene as this. 
It is, moreover, a pleasing haunt to the herons. 
Taking the trees separately, for this part of the grounds is rich in^in- 
teresting particulars, I will first touch upon the Conifers. The tallest is a 
Douglas Fir 104 feet high and well proportioned throughout. The next in 
point of altitude is a Picea cephalonica 74 feet; and close adjoining to it is 
a P. Nordmaniana that bids to beat at the finish, notwithstanding a long 
start. And, finally, on this subject, can there well be a prettier foliaged 
tree than Taxodium distichum ? There are two or three large specimens 
at Powderham, and one at the fort of a Purple Beech was indeed a bringing 
together of opposites. Other deciduous trees on this lawn by running water 
were the Spanish Chestnuts (which tree is planted more than any other in 
this corner of Devon), and a very old Tulip Tree. More shubby plants were 
represented by Magnolia purpurea and the Camellias. Some of the bushes 
of the latter are 150 years old, and one is even 21 inches in bole. They were 
originally brought here by Sir Joseph Banks, and are perhaps the best 
examples of Camellias growing in the open air to be seen in England. 
A most noticeable feature are the Eucalypti. The best specimen of 
E. coccifera is G2 feet high ; the girth is 9 feet. It is a branching tree and 
well set with flower buds. On the ground at the base are spread out the 
peelings of the bark. Where the bark is shed the wood has a peculiar 
polished appearance. The old seed vessels, which are very aromatic, linger 
for a long time on the tree. This noteworthy Eucalyptus is forty-five 
years old. In the vicinity Mr. Powell has planted a number of the other 
varieties. Many are doing well, and will carry on the memory of his name 
long after he has left this scene of his sedulous attention. The very 
young tree3, however, succumbed to the winter of 1881. 
A sweetly pretty nook is the “ G-rotto garden.” It is a semicircular 
parcel of ground. The circumference is on one side Chestnuts, and on the 
other Beeches, with Conifers and showy border shrubs at their feet. The 
said grotto cut in the old red sandstone forms the pole. Camellias and 
blue Hydrangeas are planted out, as likewise is the Spanish Furze. The lawn 
in the interior is cut up by numerous tropical beds au Wildsmith. Abutilon 
Thompsoni especially obtruded itself into notice. The Dracsenas and the 
Phormiums are evidently in a site according to their tastes, and some of the 
former were gracefulness itself. But from all this pleasant environment the 
eye turned with lively satisfaction to a splendid old Pinus sylvestris, the 
lower branches of which were gently grazing the lawn. It is a very un¬ 
common thing to see a Scotch Fir with the branches so low, or one so near 
the model of the fashionable lawn species of Conifers. As Devonshire is 
all heights and hollows, there is a pretty view from this rather high ground 
over Kenton church to the glades of Mamhead Park. The kitchen garden 
is close adjoining, and walks through shrubbery ground lead to it. 
This part of tho establishment is modern enough. The fruit trees by the 
side of the path are mostly young bushes or pyramids of Apples on the 
various Paradise stocks or Pears on the Quince, and the trees on the 
walls are comparatively young and recent-looking. Nearly all the Peaches 
are standards, for dwarfs do not succeed nearly so well in this soil. This is 
a rather peculiar fact. As regards variety, nobody could help being 
impressed by the high colour and large fruit of Sea Eagle and Dymond. 
The trees of Marie Louise Pear, growing on the walls, were not bearing a 
full crop ; but the size of the fruit was extraordinary, and quite unnatural. 
Mr. Powell, who takes a great interest in hardy fruit, and frequently shows 
collections, has planted over 100 varieties. Little trees on the Paradise 
bearing heavy crops were Winter Majetin, Mere de Mbnage, Golden Noble, and 
Rouudway MagaumBonum. The Yersaillaise variety of Red Currant cannot 
be surpassed for late autumn. The berries are large and plump, and will 
hang on the bushes as long as other varieties often will on north walls. 
There are frequent Rose borders in this garden, and some of the paths are 
lined by showy annuals and perennials. The Scabious in particular afforded 
a great variety of colour. Large patches of Christmas Roses are forced just 
as they stand in the ground, and on these plants the greatest reliance is 
placed. 
The glass houses are extensive. Grape-growing is good both in quantity 
and finish. The laterals are stopped at the second eye from the bunch. The 
plant houses are most tastefully arranged, and one, which is quite a large 
conservatory, is very well managed. The centre is taken up with Camellias 
standing in cement-covered brick basins. All over the roof is a most 
pleasing display of trailing plants. The branches of a large Bougainvillea 
are allowed to hang down, and it is seldom touched with improving fingers. 
Cantua dependens is represented by an extremely vigorous plant. The soil 
for it is prepared, and contains mortar and rubbish instead of peat.— 
C. A. M. Carmichael. 
PATENT VENETIAN FLOWER AND FRUIT HOUSES. 
Messrs. Skinner Sc Bourd, Stokes Croft, Bristol, have obtained a 
patent for a house bearing the above name, of novel construction, the 
special object of which is to provide the means of thorough ventilation. 
The roof is of curvilinear form with a number of sashes arranged in a 
parallel manner, pivoted on to the main vertical bars at the side, and each 
connected separately by its upper end with a chain extending from the 
bottom to the top of the house under each series of sashe3. By the means 
of a screw bar working in a cogged wheel at the base these sashes can 
thus be readily opened to any extent, either partly, as in fig. 43, for 
ordinary ventilation, or vertically, as in fig. 44, thus affording full ex¬ 
posure to the weather. The advantage of this is evident in the case of 
fruit trees planted out, and which cannot usually bs suitably exposed 
except with considerable labour and inconvenience. Messrs. Skinner and 
Bourd also state that “one or any number of the sashes may be readily 
disconnected so as to remain closed if required.” 
The houses are constructed with special reference to portability, and 
they can be quickly taken down and erected in another position. 
ABOUT AURICULAS. 
I have just finished working among Auriculas for the pre¬ 
sent; and the work was a labour which yielded much pleasure, as 
the plants give promise of a good bloom, and we had the farther 
pleasure of a very good supply of offsets to take from some 
rather scarce sorts. A George Lightbody gave half a dozen, an 
Acme double that number, from Sylvia two offsets were secured, 
and on Conservative two sturdy little offsets were left for a few 
weeks to gain a little more strength before removing them to 
estab ishments of their own. The latter is showing a good truss, 
which will give us at least five good pips after undergoing a 
thinning process. That is very satisfactory for a new variety 
which reached us only nine months ago in a thumb pot. I have 
every expectation of this plant yielding six more offsets at least 
by next spring. It is not a strong grower, taking after George 
Lightbody, Lancashire Hero, and others of that type. 
I am more impressed than ever with the ease that Auriculas 
can be grown, and even increased, if the right method is adopted. 
Many of the offsets which we have taken this spring will make 
good flowering plants next year, our plan being to keep them m 
a cool house in preference to frames until the young plants are 
well established. The strongest are placed in 3-inch pots 
during the summer, and in these they become useful flowering 
plants by the following spring. Some of the small plants which 
were somewhat root-bound in 2-inch pots have been lepot ed 
now, as it is found that it is much better to do this when they 
