190 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 1, 1892. 
Castle Howard. 
Entering the carriages a quick drive brought the party to Castle 
Howard, 'i'hortle Woods were first inspected, where the company was 
received by Conrad Dillon, Esq., brother to the Countess of Carlisle ; 
Mr. Fell, head forester; and all the leading officials of the estate. 
The woods are remarkable for the Spanish Chestnuts they contain. 
They equal those planted a good deal further south. Their success is 
atributed to their being interplanted with Oaks, which gave the 
necessary shelter. A fine Larch plantation planted twenty-three years 
after the Oaks was most successful and free from disease. The Society 
was then shown some successful “ Ball planting ” (the Forester s technical 
name), which was much commented on by the experts of the Society. 
The result has been most satisfactory, and it may be stated that this 
estate of over 1800 acres could have never been so ably managed other¬ 
wise, as it was entirely overrun with rabbits. The trees have been shifted 
from five to eight years old. They consist of Larch, Oak, Chestnut, 
Beech, and Spruce. At this age the trees are valueless after thinning 
from a commercial point of view, but when shifted with good “ balls, 
although the expense of planting is great, the trees are soon equal to 
those in the quarters they have been transplanted from. The north and 
south Bell Bottom Woods contain some very fine Oaks. Comhagg 
Woods is a further proof of “ Ball ” planting, which has been exceedingly 
successful, especially with Larch and Beech, done two years ago. In this 
wood was a splendid Oak, a remnant of the old forest, containing 
262 cubic feet, and 34 inches quarter girth ; it was valued at about 
£32 10s. There is also here a fine Oak plantation planted after Oak 
about twenty years ago doing well. 
The party, at the invitation of the Earl of Carlisle, then proceeded 
to the Castle to luncheon, which was held in the Grecian Hall. The 
Hon. Conrad Dillon presided, supported by Vice-Presidents Coroner 
Grakan, J. Watt, and Wm. Fell. The chair was also supported by 
the Hon. Geoffrey Howard, the Hon. Michael Howard, the Hon. Misses 
Dillon, and the Hon. Arthur Dillon. After a superb repast Mr. Coroner 
Graham moved a vote of thanks, which was responded to by the Hon. 
Conrad Dillon in the absence of the Earl of Carlisle. The party then, 
under the guidance of Mr. Dillon and the ladies mentioned, viewed the 
Castle, which contains a marvellous collection of pictures, old china, 
and cut glass, after which a hurried move was made to the gardens, 
where, under the guidance of Mr. J. Riddle, the head gardener, every 
object of horticultural interest was pointed out. On emerging at the 
south entrance an Italian flower garden was inspected, in the centre of 
which is a very fine fountain with statuary. The kitchen gardens are 
most extensive, and contain an excellent collection of herbaceous plants. 
In a border was also a marvellous display of Carnations, together with 
Shirley and Iceland Poppies. In the vineries Gros Colman, Black 
Alicante, Pearson’s Golden Queen, and Foster’s Seedling were the 
principal Grapes grown, and were of much cultural merit. In one of 
the vineries was a Fuchsia named Mrs. Marshall, more than 5 feet 
through, only fifteen months old. There are large stoves and ferneries. 
At the cool end of the latter was a fine specimen plant of Bougainvillea 
glabra. In the stoves Eranthemum Andersonianum was in flower, and 
there were some fine plants of Stanhopea oculatus. There is also a fine 
conservatory 65 by 65 feet, which is also adapted as a vinery, and will 
rank as one of the largest in England. Space does not permit of more 
being said about these gardens, but under the judicious management of 
Mr. Riddle no one in this neighbourhood ought to miss an opportunity 
of visiting them, as much of an interesting, educational, and instructive 
character in gardening will be found. 
I append a few historical reminiscences of the Howard family. The 
present distinguished owner is directly descended from Sir Walter 
Scott’s Belted Will of Romance, or Lord William Howard. The latter 
was the second son of the fourth Duke of Norfolk. This remarkable 
family have had twenty peerages conferred upon them in 400 years. 
Lord Howard is immortalised as the Lord Warden of the Marches 
betwixt England and Scotland. He was an intrepid commander, and 
was the fear and terror of unlawful marauders in the district. Sir 
Walter Scott says :— 
“ His Bilboa blade by Marcbmen felt 
Hung in a broad and studded belt, 
Hence in rude phrase the borderers still 
Call noble Howard ‘ Belted Will,’ ” 
However, the learned Dr. Lonsdale, M.D., in his admirable biography 
of the Howard family, thinks that it referred to Baldrick or Broad 
Belt, worn in that day by persons of high position ; Belted Will, in his 
opinion, meaning Bauld or Bold Willie, as it is proved that his 
belt was very small and unassuming. Belted Will was born on 
December 19th, 1563, and died October 9th, 1646. He was married 
October 28th, 1577, to Lady Elizabeth Dacre. It was this union 
that brought northern estates into the possession of the Carlisle 
family. There is a fine obelisk, erected 100 feet high by the third 
Earl of Carlisle in commemoration of the planting of the grounds with 
trees and the finishing of the buildings, the inspection of which 
afforded the party much instruction and pleasure. Mr. Fell, the 
forester, was complimented on the condition the woods were found in. 
After a hurried look at Slingsby Castle the party joined the saloon 
carriage at the Slingsby Station, and set out for their respective 
destinations, all highly pleased with the enjoyable and instructive visit 
they had had.. It adds another pleasant recollection to the annual 
meetings of the English Arboricultural Society. 
There was a large number of members present, including Mr. Jas. 
Watt, Carlisle ; Mr. Coroner Graham and Mr. Wm. Fell, Vice-Presidents; 
and Messrs. J. F. Robinson, Burnopfield ; W. Scott, Burnopfield; Wm. 
Forbes, Masham ; Geo. Cooper, Gateshead ; Jos. Graham (Chairman of 
the South Shields and Westoe Burial Board) South Shields; F. W. 
Beadon, Huddersfield ; John Balden, jun., Assistant Secretary, Hexham ; 
Froken Marsh, South Shields; Froken Silven, lady botanist from 
Wallinska ; S. Rolan, Stockholm, Sweden ; Thos. Vasey, Master Thos. 
Vasey, James Muir Smith, Capt. Davidson, Ed. Lincoln, Bernard Cowan, 
and Master John Joseph Moran, South Shields; J. R. Brown, J. V. 
Robson, W. B. Havelock, Helmsley; A. Ross, Skipton ; Councillor 
Thornton and Hebden Barker, South Shields ; C. Lonsdale, Carlisle ; 
G. Gallie, Ravensworth ; and R. S. Balden, Hanging Heaton. The 
party were much pleased with the able way in which Mr. J. Balden 
escorted them in the unavoidable absence of the Secretary, Mr. J. 
Davidson.— Bernard Cowan. 
OAKLEY HALL, BASINGSTOKE. 
Doubtless many passengers by the South-Western Railway, riding 
from Basingstoke towards Winchester, have noticed that the line cuts, 
as it were, a big slice from off a pretty park a few miles below the 
former town. That is the park attached to Oakley Hall. The entrance, 
however, is found nearly a mile across on the other side, and within 
fifteen minutes’ walk from the Oakley station on the Salisbury line, 
which branches out from the main line not far above. The park and 
mansion are not old. The trees, which are largely of Beech and very 
handsome, are perhaps 100 years planted, perhaps less ; but the house 
is a comparatively modern erection, almost entirely of red brick, a 
somewhat bold Elizabethan style, and is reached from the entrance 
lodge in about half a mile through a gentle ascent. The entrance side 
of the house is enclosed by a bold balustrading, having entrance and 
exit on either side. The object of this enclosure is not evident, but it 
is not at all an objectionable feature. That side of the house is well 
covered with evergreen climbers, but the garden front is quite bare. 
That seems a pity, but the owner, Wm. Beach, Esq., M.P., or rather his 
lady, objects to such coverings. It is right to say that just at present 
the house and gardens are in the occupation of W. P. Gilchrist, Esq., a 
London merchant. 
The grounds were laid out by the elder Milner some years since, and 
exhibit many features that render them pleasing as well as interesting. 
The peculiarity of the situation of the mansion is that it stands on 
rising ground, so that on its garden side, to secure a level flower garden, 
it was found needful to excavate one from the elevated ground, 
and thus the flower garden is on its outer margins surrounded by 
sharp slopes, which increase in depth the further it recedes from the 
house. To the onlooker this is rather an advantage, as from the upper 
lawn a capital view of what is a beautiful parterre flower garden is 
obtained. Immediately fronting the house are two fine carpet beds, but 
beyond all the parterre is planted with the best forms of bedding 
plants in rich profusion of colouring, with studied balance and effect. 
The pretty Begonias Princess Beatrice and Afterglow make charming 
masses, blooming most profusely. Phlox Drummondi, Marguerites, 
Fuchsias, Heliotropes, Begonias, and Pelargoniums all have places, and 
Mr. Weaver merits high praise for his beautiful combinations. In 
addition to the beds there are dotted at regular distances very fine and 
handsome specimen Irish Yews, Golden Hollies, and Portugal Laurels. 
On the right side of the mansion, joined to it by a glass corridor 
filled with climbing Roses, Palms, &c., runs out at right angles a 
noble conservatory in three divisions. The first is a fernery representing 
natural rockwork, done in Pulham’s best style. This is delightfully 
dressed with choice Ferns planted in the rockwork, including Adiantums 
gracillimum, concinnum, and dolatum Legrandi, very interesting with 
Its fronds composed of close setting tiers of foliage ; amabile, cuneatum 
grandiceps, and many other choice varieties ; some good Tree Ferns also 
adorn the rockwork. This place would make a beautiful picture. The 
centre division has on the floor a large fountain, with Water Lilies in 
the base, whilst fine Tree Ferns stand round, and plants of various 
descriptions ornament the sides. The roof is in the form of a lofty 
dome, and is draped with the variegated Coboea scandens. The 
third division is chiefly furnished with fine Ferns and Palms, of which 
there are numerous large specimens, and on the roof hangs a truly 
superbly coloured Bougainvillea glabra, the racemes of flowers or bracts 
hanging down in rich profusion. On the other hand, Bougainvillea 
spectabilis cannot be induced to bloom at all, though growing robustly. 
From the mansion and beyond the flower garden the rising lawn is 
very finely dressed with large numbers of handsome Coniferre, fine trees 
and shrubs, the centre figure of the remote lawn being a large group of 
Conifers, which creates two fine grassy glades that run away insensibly 
into the park. 
At the extremity of one of these, but hidden by trees, is the gardener’s 
cottage ; to the right are the kitchen gardens, and away in the distance 
is an ancient enclosure where there are many notable features. First is 
a sort of court or quadrangle, of perhaps an acre in extent, entirely 
enclosed by a wall, and Yew trees some 40 feet high. In the centre is 
a grand Beech with a circumference round the branches of about 220 feet, 
and as sort of sentinels there is at each corner a very fine Taxodium 
sempervirens, perfect specimens and of great height. An opening at one 
side exhibits a vista of turf, walled in on either side by gigantic Box 
trees. These are literally woods of some 30 to 40 feet in height, and wonder¬ 
ful to see. Probably there is hardly to be found in the kingdom so 
fine a Box tree grove as is this. Beyond this runs an avenue of fine 
Chinese Junipers, backed by numerous Conifers. Picea Nordmanniana 
