118 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND oOTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ August 11, 1837. 
plants of Marechal Niel are being “ grown on ” for forcing next year. 
Niphetos, another popular market sort, so lovely in the bud, is grown 
likewise in quantity. The General, as that fine old Eose General 
Jacqueminot is called amongst the market growers, is much esteemed 
here. As a final remark to these hasty notes it is but justice to add that 
the multifarious conten's of the establishment reflect great credit on Mi'. 
A. Hemslev, Mr. May’s manager.—B. C. 
TWICKENHAM GARDENS. 
The upper reaches of the river Thames attract many disciples of 
Isaak Walton and admirers of riverside scenery during the summer 
months. From Kew to Oxford there is a succession of beautiful curves 
and stretches with verdant grass-clad or tree-capped banks, each mile or 
so having some distinctive, charm. From Richmond to Teddington 
Lock is an especially interesting portion of such a trip. On the Surrey 
side is seen the wooded heights of Richmond Park, and on the Middlesex 
side is a series of picturesque villas, or imposing mansions, with delight¬ 
fully fresh green lawns sloping to the river, enlivened by beds of and 
vases of flowers, half hidden in a profusion of luxuriant trees, amon st 
which graceful Weeping Willows are suitably conspicuous. In such a 
torrid season as the present, with lawns in particular and vegetation 
generally parched and brown, these riverside gardens have an excep¬ 
tional charm, a refreshing influence that only those can fully realise 
who are familiar with the depressing effect produced by the drought in 
most places. Then, too, nearly the whole of the Twickenham side is in¬ 
vested with unusual historical interest, bringing memories to the student 
of the illustrious people who have made the town their favourite re¬ 
sort. Horticulturally, also, Twickenham is very interesting, for ex¬ 
amples of good gardening abound, and as one of the best of these we 
may select for a few notes the gardens at 
POULETT LODGE. 
The residence of Mrs. Meek is situated on the Middlesex bank of the 
Thames. The house is of unpretentious design, but now so beautifully 
covered with the handsome Magnolia grandiflora that it has a highly 
picturesque appearance. The lawn slopes towards the river, being 
bounded on that side by a terrace walk and stone balustrade, surmounted 
by vases filled with Pelargoniums and other flowering plants, which have 
an excellent effect, attracting attention for a long distance up and down 
the river. Some charming vistas are obtained in the direction of Rich¬ 
mond, one in particular commanding a view of the Star and Garter 
Hotel at the top of the hill, and towards Teddington is a pretty stretch 
of river scenery. Trees are noteworthy for their luxuriant health. A 
fine Weeping Willow droops over the balustrade at one end of the terrace, 
a sturdy old Mulberry has a central position, and a magnificent Cedar of 
Lebanon is also seen. Upon the lawn are numerous beds of Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums, the favourites being Henry Jacoby; Mrs. Turner, which succeeds 
admirably and is one of the best pink varieties ; Master Christine and 
Vesuvius ; while in the vases near the house single Petunias are freelv 
employed with admirable effect. The Magnolias already mentioned are 
quite a feature, and their fine condition might make us fancy we were 
in a warm western county. They are trained close to the wall, but are 
allowed sufficient freedom of growth to show their large rich shining 
green leaves and massive flowers to perfection, the fragrance of the 
latter being very powerful. The trees very rarely suffer in the winter, 
except one plant at an exposed corner, which has been slightly damaged 
on one or two occasions. 
At the rear of the house are the principal glass houses, devoted both 
to plant and fruit culture, in which the well known gardener, Mr. W. 
Bates, has achieved some considerable successes. The chief plant houses 
are now undergoing repair, but the collection comprises, amongst many 
good “ specimens ” of stove and greenhouse plants that have won 
numerous honours in competition at suburban shows, a number of useful 
sized plants that are valued for decorative purposes, and all are distin¬ 
guished by a fresh healthy appearance that is most gratifying. Grapes 
are an important crop in most establishments, and to them Mr. Bates 
gives much attention with capital results. A fine lean-to range in four divi¬ 
sions is devoted to Vines, and from these is obtained a long supply of 
useful fruit. Black Hamburghs are particularly well grown ; compact 
medium size bunches are secured, which this season have been notable 
for the size of the berries and good finish. Madresfield Court is also a 
favourite, and no difficulty is experienced with it, as the Vines are 
allowed to carry plenty of foliage, and no further trouble is needed to 
prevent the cracking some have found so frequent. The bunches and 
berries are large and colouring splendidly. Of Muscat of Alexandria 
there are also some fine samples, substantial well set bunches, and good 
berries assuming that rich tint peculiar to the well finished Muscats. 
The Vines are treated liberally, cropped freely, and kept thoroughly 
clean, while it may be mentioned that for all the houses piping is 
liberally supplied. 
A long Peach house or case contains a number of remarkably healthy 
trees, bearing a good even crop of fruits, Peaches, Nectarines, and 
Plums being alike noteworthy in this respect. Of the first named, 
Mr. Bates very highly commends Alexander as an early variety, as, 
though a clingstone variety, it is of fine flavour, very prolific, and 
remarkably early. It was introduced some ten years since by Mr. 
Rivers, and has gained much favour in many gardens. At Poulett 
Lodge may be seen an example of Pine-growing that would not disgrace 
the best growers who make a specialty of that fruit, and it is the more 
interesting now so few gardeners have an opportunity of showing their 
skill in this direction. Abundant as imported Pines are now, there are 
some who still esteem a home grown well-ripened Pine Apple as the 
most delicious of fruits, and incomparably superior to those that are so 
numerous in fruiterers’ shops. Mr. Bates grows about eighty-five 
fruiting plants yearly, and he relies upon the varieties Smooth Cayenne 
and Queen for the main supply, with a few of Prince Albert for summer 
and autumn, on account of its peculiarly rich flavour. A pitful of 
suckers and succession plants just potted are very promising, clean and 
healthy, while some well developed fruits in another pit are ripening 
excellently. Several small pits are devoted to Melons and Cucumbers, 
with frames of Tomatoes, all of which are in large demand. 
The chief portion of kitchen garden, comprising about two acres, is 
on the opposite side of the Cross Deep Road. It is enclosed on three 
sides by a wall which has been covered with Morello Cherries, Plums, 
and Pears, the latter as cordons, six trees of each variety, a selection of 
the best being represented. This wall is of considerable length, and the 
trees yield a supply of fruit far exceeding what would be ex; ected from 
a garden of this size. There is scarcely a foot of unoccupied space to be 
seen, and the trees are now in fine bearing condition. This has been a 
most valuable addition to the resources of the establishment, and as the 
majority of the trees have been planted during Mr. Bates’ period of 
management, in this respect alone he has done good work. The small 
fruits have been abundant, and the orchard trees are looking well, Pears 
being abundant. Apples are also plentiful, but not to the extent the 
wonderful show of bloom led many to expect. The vegetable crops have 
had a trying season, but with the assistance of a plentiful supply of 
water the evil effects have to some extent been overcome, though Onions 
ami root crops generally are necessarily small. The care of a thoroughly 
practical superintendent, who finds a pleasure in his employment, is evi¬ 
dent in every department, and no one can spend an hour with Mr. Bates 
without recognising him as a true gardener. 
A short distance farther down the same road brings the visitor to the 
historically famous garden at 
POPE’S TILL A. 
The present erection is of ornamental construction, and is said to be 
placed very near to the site of the poet’s original villa, which has been 
long since swept away. Nearly a century and a half have elapsed since 
Alexander Pope died, and many changes have occurred in his favourite 
garden in that time, but in some respects its beauty may be said to be 
more fully developed and perfected than he ever saw it. Trees that 
were planted in his time or shortly before, like the Cedars of Lebanon, 
have attained to majestic proportions, while doubtless some that were 
then in their prime have disappeared, such as the poet’s Weeping Willow, 
of which an old trunk is still preserved in the grotto. Many of Pope's 
letters and poems prove him to have taken the deepest interest in his 
garden, and much of his time was spent in devising improvements. He 
endeavoured to introduce as much variety as possible and to “follow 
Nature,” and he says— 
“ Thoso lules of old d'seovered, not devised, 
Are Nature still, but Nature mctli >dised. 
Nature, like Ltbeity, is but restrained 
By the tame law which first herself ordained.” 
It is recorded by biographers that Pope purchased the garden and villa 
with a portion of £5000 he realised by the sale of his translation of 
Homer’s Iliad, a respectable sum for successful authors to secure even at 
the present time. He seems to have derived considerable pleasure from 
his garden, for in writing to a friend he says, “No ideas you could form 
in the winter can make you imagine what Twickenham is in the summer 
season. Our river glitters beneath an unclouded sun, at the same time 
that its banks retain the verdure of the showers ; our gardens are offering 
their first nosega s ; our trees, like new acquaintances brought together, 
are stretching their arms to meet each other, and growing nearer and 
nearer every hour ; the birds are paying their thanksgiving songs for the 
new habitations I have made them ; my building rises huh enough to 
attact the eye and curiosity of the passenger from the river, when be¬ 
holding a mixture of beauty and ruin, he inquires what house is rising 
or what church is falling; so little taste have our common Tritons of 
Vitruvius, whatever delight the poetical god of the river may take in re¬ 
flecting on its streams my Tuscan portico or Ionic pilasters.” The 
celebrated grotto, of which so much has been written, is practically a 
passage constructed for convenience beneath the Cross Deep Road, and 
connecting the portion of the garden near the river with another portion 
and the kitchen garden beyond. Though it is not so ornate now as 
when fresh from its designer’s hand, it is considerably more than “ a 
mere damp subway,” as a recent writer has dubbed it. 
After Pope’s death the villa passed into the possession of Lady, sub¬ 
sequently Baroness Howe, the daughter of Admiral Howe, and though 
many alterations were effected during her residence, much of the nature 
of despoiling, the place became famous for brilliant garden parties, and 
especially for the great fetes on the anniversary of “ the glorious 1st of 
June.” Subsequently to that period the garden passed into other hands ; 
it was, with the house, several times offered for sale, and finally the 
present villa (fig. 15) was erected, which is now in the occupation of 
Henry Labouchere, Esq., M.P. 
The garden is not a large one, and its beauty consists in its wealth 
of trees and shrubs, with verdant velvety lawns. From the river 
frontage a charming view is obtained up and down the river ; through 
the grotto the other garden is reached, a delightful sylvan retreat in 
which both Conifers and deciduous trees thrive with equal luxuriance. 
There are several grand Beeches, graceful Deodars, and Cedars of Lebanon, 
