232 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 9, 1886. 
Miscellaneous .—Several collections of Dahlias not in competition were 
exhibited, and notable amongst these were the stands from Messrs. H. 
Cannell & Sons, Swanley, which comprised a fine selection of the leading 
varieties in each section. Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, contributed a varied 
collection of singles and Pompons very tastefully arranged with Asparagus 
sprays. Messrs. Cheal & Son, Crawley, also had a choice display of single 
and other varieties, and seedlings were shown by several growers. 
EASTON LODGE, DUNMOW. 
The county of Essex generally is not remarkable for its picturesque 
beauty, and the majority who hate not explored it seem to have formed 
the idea that it is one of those flat uninteresting tracts of land such as are 
often found on the banks of rivers, especially on the opposite side of the 
German Ocean. As regards that poition of the county which borders the 
Thames, and with which Londoners at least are most familiar, this is quite 
true, but a few well-chosen excursions inland, and particularly to the north 
of Chelmsford, will reveal landscape attractions that were quite unex¬ 
pected. The beauty is of a quiet homely character, the land undulating 
and in some districts pleadingly wooded, giving typical English rural 
prospects which, though less striking than those in the more boldly 
varied and hilly counties, yet have a refreshing and peaceful effect that all 
lovers of country scenes can fully appreciate. One such district is found 
in the neighbourhood cf Dunmow that was formerly so noted for its 
peculiar “ Flitch of Bacon ” custom, and a drive of four miles from this 
little town to the residence of Lord and Lady Brooke, Easton Lodge, 
effectually dispels any illusions formed respecting the uninteresting 
character of Essex scenery, while at Easton itself is found one of the 
grand old parks for which England is famed. 
Dunmow is readily reached by the Great Eastern line from Liverpool 
Street to Bishops Stortford, and from there a branch line runs to Dun¬ 
mow, but Takeley on the same branch and Elsenham on the Cambridge 
line are nearly equal distances from Easton Lodge. A public road 
extends through the park, and a most agreeable thoroughfare it is 
in the summer and early autumn when the trees are in their best con¬ 
dition. The park comprises over 1000 acres, and is beautifully wooded, 
the great features of the place being the old Oaks, some of which have 
attained enormous dimensions with large gnarled boles and widely 
spreading heads that are most picturesque. Some that must date back 
several centuries have now little more than a trunk-like shell remaining 
to show what giants they were in their prime, but there are plenty of 
others which are still in full vigour, and for a kind of sturdy nobility we 
have no trees to equal a full-grown Oak ; none of the quick- growing 
trees so usually planted can be compared with them. Sometimes, how¬ 
ever, Oaks are seen planted in most unsuitable positions, a remarkable in¬ 
stance of which recently came under notice. An avenue of closely 
planted Oaks had been formed leading to a mansion, and a sorry 
appearance they had, for a great length of time would be needed to 
enable them to assume anything like their proper proportions. In such 
a position a quick-growing tree of any kind would have been far more 
appropriate, and if Oaks are to be seen at their best they must be 
scattered in small clumps, or preferable as single specimens, as they are at 
Easton. 
Approaching the house by the public road a good view of the south-west 
part is obtained, and the first impression is that the “ Lodge ” is a very 
modest title for such a substantial and handsome structure. It is built 
chiefly in the Tudor style, only one small portion in the Elizabethan 
style remaining of the original house erected by Sir William Maynard in 
1593. The old house was nearly destroyed by fire in 1847, and the 
present structure erected in its place at the cost of £12,000. The illus¬ 
tration (fig. 31) shows the north-east side, and is from a photograph 
by Mr. Stacey of Dunmow. On the left is a remarkably old and hand¬ 
some Catalpa syringasfolia, which flowers abundantly, and at the time the 
photograph was taken it was very beautiful, loaded with its large heads 
of funnel-shaped spotted flowers, like small Gloxinias. The principal 
flower garden is situated on this side of the house, and though of simple 
design is extremely effective, and has been capitally planted this season, 
attracting the admiration of many visitors. The beds generally are 
arranged in the form of a bell, the base of which is nearest to the house. 
There are four outer long beds forming the outline, filled in the centre 
with Pelargonium Manglesi and Verbena venosa mixed, a row of Iresine 
Lindeni round this, and a broad outer band of Oerastium tomentosum. 
These have a beautiful appearance, and the mixture is one of the most 
pleasing we have seen. Next to these outer beds is a series of eight 
smaller beds, four of which, in opposite, are filled with Pelargonium 
Vesuvius edged with a double row of Lobelia Brighton Blue, two are 
filled with Pelargonium Bijou, and two with Pelargonium Mardchal 
MacMahon, each being edged with the Lobelia, like the others. An inner 
series of eight horseshoe-like beds are planted alternately with Tropaeolum 
Vesuvius edged with Cerastium tomentosum, and a dwarf Ageratum 
edged with Pyrethrum Golden Feather. The centre circular bed has Cen- 
taureas in the middle, surrounded by a star of Coleus Verschaffelti, angles 
of Pyrethrum, and margined with Echeveria=. In other portions of the 
garden are several other good beds, notably a long scroll near the con¬ 
servatory, planted with Lobelia Brighton Blue edged with Antennaria, 
and with small circles in the loops of the scroll filled with Biota aurea 
in the centre, surrounded by Coleus Verschaffelti, and the whole design is 
enclosed by a band of Golden Harry Hieover Pelargonium. A large 
caipet bed opposite this has also been very tastefully designed, having a 
gronndwork of Antennaria with a tracery of Alternanthera9 amcena, 
magnifica, paronychioides and aurea, and a few scattered Chammpeuces 
and Grevilleis. The whole of the bedding is very unpretentious, but 
extremely effective, and it has been repeatedly proved that the simple 
well-chosen methods of planting are the most satisfactory. 
The garden altogether comprises about twelve acres, of which 3J acres 
are included in the kitchen garden. Roses are an important feature at 
Easton, about 2300 plants being placed out in the quarters specially 
reserved for them. Numerous varieties are grown either as bush or 
standard trees, but chiefiy as the farmer, and of some varieties like 
Charles Ltfebvre, which is a great favourite with Lady Brooke, there are 
many beds. Other favourites are La France, Baroness Rothschild, Dr. 
Andry, Capitaine Chribty, and Marie Baumann, together with the 
fiorifercus little William Allen Richardson, which is grown against a wall 
and has been very satisfactory. All the Roses are treated liberally in 
the shape of manurial applications, and they thrive very satisfactorily, 
yielding great quantities of flowers to supply the large demands. The 
glass houses are not very numerous, but there is a neat conservatory that 
is kept well furnished, and which has a particularly beautiful appearance 
in November when the Chrysanthemums are in flower, as these form another 
specialty at Easton are then effectively arranged on the stages and up the 
roof so as to constitute a kind of floral avenue, In the kitchen garden are 
vineries, Cucumber and Melon houses, frames, &c., with a Peach house 
(erected a short time since by Messrs. Boulton & Paul) 80 feet long, and 
planted with Princess of Wales, Barrington, Stirling Castle, Early Louise, 
and Nectarines Lord Napier and Violette Hdtive, healthy trees that have 
already yielded well and give excellent promise for the future. 
The kitchen garden is well stocked, and, like the whole of the garden, 
kept in admirable condition, very creditable to the gardener, Mr. H. 
Lister. There is a good number of fruit trees, Apples, Pears, and Plums, 
some old, but others in vigorous fruit-bearing condition. Very notable is 
a large specimen of the Myrobalon or Cherry Plum, from which as much as 
10 bushels of fruit has been obtained in one year. This is much valued 
for preserving, and is a favourite fruit in the district. Apples are a 
rather short crop this season, but small fruits have been abundant, Goose¬ 
berries succeeding wonderfully well, and yielding fruit of exhibition size. 
The lawns, shrubberies, and walks around the house are well attended, 
and the garden generally gives the best evidence that it is under good 
management.—L. Castle. 
GRAPES COLOURING. 
White Grapes undoubtedly colour best when not too heavily shaded 
with foliage, and, on the other hand, black Grapes seem always to colour 
best when beneath a heavy’ shade of leaves. Black Lrapes seem to lose 
colour if exposed to the sun after having coloured well beneath the foliage. 
There seems some subtle distinction in the composition of white and 
black Grapes that makes this difference ; we may not be able to define it, 
but experience tells us that such is the case, and we must be guided by 
experience and Ireat the different colours differently. Muscats seem 
especially 7 to like a very thin shade of foliage, and some growers go the 
length of allowing them to have the full blaze of the sun. I prefer to 
have some shade on them, as when fully exposed to the sun, though they 
take a deep golden colour, they at the same time shrivel a little, and in 
some cases become brown. They are, when in that condition, too sweet 
for my taste : I prefer them a shade less golden, provided they are quite 
plump and fresh. Golden-coloured Muscats, without the peculiar browny 
gold of full exposure to the sun, are more likely to keep well than those 
which are roasted into the more deep and even browny gold that is 
sometimes seen, and which, by some, is considered perfection. 
This month, September, has opened grandly for the finishing of all 
Grapes, and the sun, which at present is so steadily shining, will do 
wonders for all vegetation, and for colouring “the fruits of the earth 
that still remain to be matured. Late Grapes should keep well this year 
if we have a continuance of this sunny summer weather ; but I would 
advise all who wi B h their Muscats to keep for some time, not to expose 
them to the direct rays of the sun, but to maintain a partial shade of 
foliage.—R eader. 
GLADIOLI AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE. 
The unexpected, we are told, always happens, and the saying was 
certainly fulfilled in this part of the Exhibition held on Friday and 
Saturday last. Knowing that two new competitors in the nurserymen’s 
class were about to enter the field, I, in common with some others, was 
looking forward to the grandest display of these flowers which had ever 
been held. I had weighed in my mind how these new men would stand 
in comparison with the older exhibitors—Messrs, Kelway and Campbell. 
But when I got there I found that neither of these redoubtable 
champions had entered the lists, and that virtually the contest lay be¬ 
tween them, for the two other collections were far behind. These two 
competitors were Messrs. Burrell, How House Nurseries, Cambridgeshire, 
and Messrs. Harkness of Bedale in Yorkshire. Neither of them had been 
to the manner born. One had been an amateur Rose exhibitor in the n< rth, 
and like some others, carried away by his love of the flowers, bad passed 
away from the amateur to the grower, and has very successfully com¬ 
peted during the past season. The ethers were in business of another kind, 
bnt have taken mainly to flower culture, have been most successful as 
Rose exhibitors in the north, and have now established their name as 
very successful growers of Gladioli, thus giving another illustration ihit 
a mau may, despite his never having been lrougtt up to it, become a 
successful horticulturist. 
