February 5, llOl. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
105 
ASCOTT GARDENS. 
^Within two miles from the Leighton Buzzard Station on the North- 
Western main line from Euston is situated the Buckinghamshire 
residence of Leopold de Rothschild, Esq , bearing the name of Ascott. 
Standing upon elevated ground north of the Vale of Aylesbury, it com¬ 
mands a most pleasing prospect of English rural scenery, an extremely 
fertile district, bounded in the distance by the picturesque Chiltern Hills. 
This for nearly 300 years has been the site of a garden and residence, 
and though the present mansion comprises but a relatively small poition 
of the original structure, the additions and extensions have been con¬ 
ducted with so much skill and taste that much of the old character has 
been preserved. It is now a comfortable looking, picturesque, and 
spacious residence, exactly in accord with its surroundings, and the 
beau ideal of a country squire’s hall. 
In the garden, with which we are more conce nrd, imnortant work 
a place. One portion in particular must be delightful in the extreme 
during the summer months—namely, the Rose and hardy plant garden. 
This occupies a sheltered position, a long walk passing down the centre, 
with spacious beds on each side, filled with Carnations and all the best 
free flowering effective and fragrant hardy plants in grand masses, both 
beautiful and useful. At frequent intervals the path is spanned by 
arches covered with Roses, Clematis, Honeysuckle, Hops, and numerous 
other climbers, which are all made to twist and scramble and droop in 
delightful freedom and luxuriance. A large bed in a central position 
was last season devoted to Hollyhocks with admirable results. This 
garden must, in fact, afford a succession of welcome flowers from early 
spring until late autumn. 
South of the house there is a fine expanse of lawm bounded by a low 
terrace wall. Golden variegated trees and shrubs are employed with 
excellent effects, one bank of Olearia Haasti and Golden Cypresses 
being especially noteworthy. Then magnificent hedges of Golden Yews 
Fig. 20.—a view IN ASCOTT GARDENS. 
has been carried out with the same good taste and careful study of 
natural effects. The old trees have been preserved with almost loving 
care ; but fine shrubberies have been formed, banks raised and suitably 
planted, dells and rockeries rendered more attractive by a judicious 
accentuation of their characters, and liberal additions to their occupants. 
A garden has thus been formed which increases in interest every year, 
and Mr. Rothschild gives the keenest attention t^ every detail where 
improvement seems desirable. It is the accumulative results of this 
watchful interest that constitute the charms of a beautiful garden, the 
development of which must be the work of years. When we contem¬ 
plate a fine picture we see only the finished labours of the skilful artist, 
and except it be viewed with a professional eye the gradual steps by 
which this has been accomplished are not considered. So it is in a 
garden designed for natural effect. The greatest success is achieved 
when the process by which it has been attained is not perceptible to the 
stranger. 
Our visit was made to Ascott at a time of year which is least fitted 
for showing the special features of a garden to the best advantage— 
namely, in November. Even then, however, it required but moderate 
imaginative power to realise the spring and summer attrac icns of such 
and Golden Hollies extend for over 100 yards, and a walk near the Rose 
and Ivy covered walls brings us to the point where the photograph was 
taken depicted in the engraving (fig. 20). Upon slightly raised ground 
above a picturesque rockery bank the flower garden is overlooked, and 
then away beyond a distinct prospect is obtained of the Aylesbury Vale. 
Fine old trees form the framework to the picture, the velvety grass 
slopes, the beds of flowering plants, and the peculiar clipped Yew and 
Box trees constitute a varied and charming scene. Some of the strange 
examples of topiary work are great antiquities dating back at least a 
century and a half and worthily preserved for their interest. It may be 
remarked a handsome fountain has been placed in the centre since the 
photograph was taken. 
With regard to the glass houses little need be said, for Carnations 
are the great speciality at Ascott, and these were referred to fully in 
this Journal last year (page 430, November 20th). Readers may, how¬ 
ever, be reminded that l.oOO plants of Miss .Joliffe alone are grown, 
w'hich yield something like 50,000 flowers. Many other choice varieties 
are also included, and the handsome Souvenir de la Malmaison receives 
special attention. In other houses Zonal Pelargoniums are well grown, 
together with miscellaneous plants for decorative purposes, Nerines 
