December 8, 1892. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
507 
SENNOWE, NORFOLK. 
This fine old estate, situated in East Norfolk about two miles from 
Rybergh Station, on the Norwich and Wells branch of the Great Eastern 
Railway, and about five miles from the town of Fakenham, is owned 
and occupied by B. Le Neve Foster, Esq., J.P., whose name has recently 
appeared before the Chrysanthemum-loving world as a successful 
exhibitor of cut flowers. Like many other estates in Norfolk, Sennowe 
is splendidly wooded, and contains some fine Oaks, Elms, and other 
trees. The woods alone occupy an area of about 360 acres. 
One of the most prominent features of the place is a carriage drive 
one and a quarter mile in length. This drive is formed of red gravel 
obtained in the neighbourhood, and is bordered on each side by a belt of 
lawn 10 or 12 feet wide, at the back of which are four magnificent rows 
of splendidly furnished specimens of the Norway Spruce, interspersed 
here and there with Cupressus Lawsoniana, C. macrocarpa, Oedrus 
Deodara and C. atlantica, Picea insignis, P. Nordmanniana, and P. 
pinsapo. The average height of these trees is about 30 feet, and they are 
by the considerable portion thereof still hanging in the late house. At 
right angles to these houses, and in front of them, is an excellent span- 
roof Peach house 50 feet long by 16 wide, from which 1000 to 1200 
Peaches are obtained in the season. It is in this house that Mr. Gilbert 
flowers his Japanese Chrysanthemums, the incurved varieties occupying 
the vineries. 
A large conservatory adjoins the mansion. The roof of this is covered 
with Tacsonia Van Yolxemi producing an abundance of richly coloured 
flowers. A very fine collection of Tuberous Begonias have been grown 
and flowered in this house. Two grand specimens of Dracaena australis 
are also noticeable, and during the summer these are used with good 
effect outside, as may be seen by the engraving (fig. 67). Gloxinias 
are well grown, and a collection of these occupy nearly the whole space 
in the conservatory in early summer prior to the Begonias coming into 
flower. 
The lawns and pleasure grounds are limited in area, but as they 
open on to a finely timbered park of fifty-two acres this is not notice¬ 
able. Mr. Foster appears to take a just pride in his estate, and in seeing 
Fig. 67.—A VIEW IN SENNOWE GARDENS, NORFOLK. 
« 
uniform in shape and size. I am told by the proprietor that this drive 
was formed and planted thirty to thirty-five years ago by the late Mr. 
W. Barron of Elvaston. The majority of the trees were large specimens 
when planted, and were brought by road a distance of fifteen miles on 
Mr. Barron’s machines from the Earl of Leicester’s estates at Holkam. 
The mansion is a somewhat low-built, square, old-fashioned structure, 
covering a considerable area. The courtyard and stables are extensive 
and good, the latter having been recently re-modelled inside and fitted 
with all modern appliances by the present proprietor. 
The kitchen gardens are about two acres in extent, forming a square 
surrounded ©n three sides by high brick walls and on the fourth by the 
gardener’s cottage and a range of glass houses with potting sheds and 
offices at the back. This range of lean-to houses comprises two vineries 
and a large structure devoted to Melon culture in the summer and as a 
forcing house in the winter. In this house now are some well-grown 
Poinsettias developing fine bracts. There is also a fine batch of Callas 
now throwing up spathes freely, plants which were planted out during 
the summer and lifted in September. Some Coelogyne cristata in large 
pans, well grown and promising to flower abundantly, were also 
noticeable. 
Some excellent fruit has been grown in the vineries as is evidenced 
that it shall not suffer in his hands, and in this he is ably supported by 
his skilled gardener, Mr. Gilbert.—W. K. Woodcock. 
PEAR CULTURE IN SMALL GARDENS IN TOWNS. 
Birmingham has a well-earned reputation for having plenty of 
factory and other chimneys, and is celebrated amongst other things 
for smoke, and suburban gardens have not the advantages of pure air 
and plenty of sunshine which non-manufacturing towns possess.. 
Difficulties, however, can be overcome when a cultivator goes heartily to 
work and makes a study of the first principles in gardening. At the: 
Birmingham Chrysanthemum Show prizes were offered for two dishes 
of Pears grown within two and a half miles of the Birmingham Post 
Office, and Mr. F. Mole, who resides at Edgbaston, within the area, and 
whose doings as a fruit cultivator I have on previous occasions referred 
to, won the first prize with very fine Doyenn6 du Comice and Pitmaston 
Duchesse d’AngoulSme Pears grown against a wall in his garden. Since 
then he has distributed amongst his friends some specimens of the 
varieties he has fruited this year, and I had the good fortune to 
be a recipient of some fine well coloured samples of Doyenn6 du Comice, 
