August 18, 1887. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
137 
The generous proprietor has done much towards restoring and 
developing this picturesque place. With a liberal hand he has 
employed labour to add to Nature’s requirements, by adding to and 
planting new belts and shrubberies on the naturally formed terraces 
and slopes that both surmount and underlie the mansion nearer the sea 
coast. It is just the place for a man of sound taste and a lover of 
natural scenery. Water in abundance bubbling up here and there, or 
gushing out between the rocks, adds to the beauty and the charm of 
the place. In the lake near the house Calla sethiopica seems perfectly at 
home, having been planted out with the other Water Lilies about four 
years ago, and stood the winter and increased amazingly. Since then 
they were in flower in June, and had been for two months previously. 
Around the latter was ordinary greenhouse Palms, &c., to add to the 
sub-tropical appearance. The fruit in the kitchen garden was well 
protected, being made completely bird proof by permanent galvanised 
wire netting stretched across from wall to wall, laced together, and 
supported by lengths of strong wire strained by the ordinary wall 
strainers fixed with cog wheels, and supported in the centre of the 
garden by one or two iron supports made from 1-inch gas pipe, both the 
i!^ C t! en ® ar ^ ens n eat and well done, and serving as a protection to 
the buds in spring as well as the fruit in summer ; no doubt it will 
S °°n v Pay ^° r itse ! f - Outdoor fruit, which includes Figs, usually bear 
well here, and this year seems no exception to the rule. The ranges of 
span-roofed houses are full with the usual stove and greenhouse 
plants, and overflowing with fresh imported or newly purchased 
Orchids, three new houses are about to be erected for the accommoda¬ 
tion of the latter. There is a fine breadth of land between the 
house and the sea cliff, and when the belts of thousands of ornamental 
trees that has just been planted get up, it will add to the beauty, and 
be a great protection from the south winds. Mr. J. Cave, the gardener, 
is quite at home at this work, and the condition of the plants and the 
general character of the place do him credit.—C. 0. 
(To be continued.) 
BEDDING ARRANGEMENTS AT HAMPTON COURT. 
Notwithstanding the excessive heat and long-continued drought 
of the present summer, the bedding arrangements are quite up to the 
usual standard ; and despite all that [has been said and written against 
it, the Zonal Pelargonium has exhibited in a marked degree its 
adaptability to endure greater hardships. All that is observable is that 
the Pelargoniums have made less wood than usual, but this at the same time 
is firmer, and has produced flowers abundantly. One point, however, 
should be borne in mind, and that is there is a plentiful supply of 
water here, and hose sufficient to reach a considerable distance, with 
stand-pipes for supply, and having all this, the labour entailed in 
keeping their wants supplied is not very great. Still the great glare of 
colour which these plants supply stands greatly in need of modification, 
and this might readily be done by bringing them into contact with the 
“ hundred and one ” colours of a much more subdued and enjoyable 
tone ; and this idea is exemplified at Hampton Court, and is at once 
pleasing and edifying. It is in such gardens as these that we would 
resort for examples in this manner ; and among the great number of 
beds which are annually filled, it is not itoo much to sav that even the 
most fastidious may find something to please his particular fancies, but 
he may at the same time carry away some good and useful lessons. 
In the great number of oblong beds, which vary little from year to 
year, having for their occupants differently coloured Zonal Pelargoniums, 
with Coleuses, Iresine or variegated Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums as margins, 
there is nothing of particular merit, while in the mixed beds, as well as 
m those devoted to carpet bedding, much taste and ability have been 
displayed. It is from these latter, therefore, that I will endeavour to 
give, as far as I can, the m inner in which the various plants are utilised 
to bring about the result here obtained, in the hope that some, at least, 
of the readers of this paper may gather useful hints. For example, a 
bed filled with Abutilon niveum maculatum, dotted with Iresine Lindeni 
and Verbena venosa, was very pretty, while another with a margin of 
Ageratum Pearl Blue, a free-flowered, dwarf-growing, and effective 
variety, was planted,or rather dotted, with Veronica Andersoni variegata 
and Tropoeolum Vesuvius. Both these are pleasing arrangements, and 
are situate at the Bushy Park end of the gardens. Then there are two 
large circular beds, which everyone admires, and which are very well 
done. The first has a groundwork of Mesembryanthemum cordifolium 
fol- var., intersected in which are scrolls of Alternanthera nana aurea 
and A. magnifica. These scrolls are edged with Echeveria Peacocki, 
while the margin is composed of Echeveria secunda and Sedum his- 
panicum glaucum. The other bed has for its margin plants similar to 
the first, inside which is Mesembryanthemum and then Alternanthera. 
The main feature of the bed is occupied by a hexagon-shaped design, or 
star, the points of which extend to the margin. This is formed of 
Alternanthera nana aurea, with a dark variety inside, while a good plant 
of Pachyphytum bracteatum occupies the central place. 
The spaces between the points of the star are occupied with 
Leucophyton Browni sunk in small beds, making up a very pleasing 
arrangement. The next bed has a margin of Pelargonium Golden Harry 
Hieover, the main portion being occupied with P. Flower of Spring, 
among whose latter foliage the purple blue flowers of Viola Favourite 
mingle in the most happy manner possible. Such beds as this always 
please, and are always appreciated for the charming combination which 
their arrangement together supply, the dark green leaves of the Viola 
peeping out here and there being just sufficient to break the monotony 
of the silver leaves of the Pelargonium. Another bed was made up of 
Iresine Wallsi as a margin, and Acer Negundo variegata with single 
purple Petunias planted indiscriminately. Adjoining this is an oblong 
carpet bed ; the centre is occupied by an oval of Echeveria Peacocki, 
the. groundwork is Mesembryanthemum, some shepherd-hook-shaped 
designs are formed in the last-named with Alternanthera grandis 
margined with Echeveria Peacocki, with patches of Alternanthera 
amabilis and A. nana aurea here and there. The next carpet bed 
design has in its centre a Maltese cross, the outline of which is dark 
Alternanthera, next to which is Echeveria Peacocki, the interior being 
occupied with Semqervivum moatar.um ; M sembry.mthemum occupies 
the groundwork, in company with Alternanthera magnifica, small sunk 
plots here and there of Leucophyton completing the arrangement. 
Opposite the entrance to the famous Vine is a bed for the most part 
of Herniaria glabra and Mesembryanthemum, the two being well 
balanced, for this Alternanthera grandis forms a margin, while the 
narrow band on the outside is formed alternately of trombone shapes of 
Mesembryanthemum and Herniaria. The next bed is perhaps the most 
effective of all, having a splendid groundwork of Veronica Candida, 
which is perfection itself. Fixed in this are crescent shapes of Golden 
Alternanthera ; Iresine Walsi, closely kept, forms a cross bar in centre, 
with heart shapes of Alternanthera pu^iurea piercing to the centre. It 
is noticeable here how few plants are employed, yet notwithstanding 
the colours are so decided and harmonise so well that together they 
form one of the best arrangements in the garden. The next bed is the 
Jubilee bed, which exhibits a great deal of labour and painstaking. The 
principal groundwork is Mesembryanthemum and Leucophyton, the 
crowns on either side the bed are worked out in Alternanthera nana 
aurea, while the letters “ V. R.” and the figures “ 1837 and 1887,” signi¬ 
fying the term of years forming the Jubilee, are done with Alternan¬ 
thera purpurea and A. amabilis. A shield of Iresine Wallsi occupies an 
inner position with Echeveria metallica glauca as the centre, sur¬ 
rounded by Kleinias, while the ends are occupied by plots of golden 
Alternanthera, with Pachyphytum in the centre of each. 
As a groundwork to a bed of standard Roses, Heliotrope Lady 
Molesworth was splendid ; it is a good dark variety, free and abundant 
bloomer, and of unsurpassed fragrance. This variety, with President 
Garfield, are the only ones I noted here. But while the general bedding 
arrangements are carried to such an extent as they are here, and by the 
care and patience bestowed upon them brought to a high state of 
efficiency, it still remains a fact that the beds devoted to hardy perennials 
and herbaceous plants are not so good as they might be. So long as 
there are so many first-class flowering perennials to be had, there is very 
little reason why they should not figure in such a garden as this in place 
of some of the present weedy occupants, for after all who can 
but admire the stately and noble Hollyhock and Delphiniums, the great 
variety of herbaceous Phloxes now in full beauty, double and single 
Pyrethrums, so exquisitely beautiful in their day, German Iris, 
Gladiolus, Liliums, &c. 't There is ample scope for enthusiasm in this 
direction, and I trust active measures will be taken to represent this 
department of gardening as faithfully as it now does the one for which 
it has for years been famous.—J. H. 
NANNAU PARK. 
According to Pennant Nannau enjoys the distinction of being the 
highest mansion in Great Britain. It stands upwards of 700 feet above 
sea level, and commands some of the grandest scenery in wild Wales, 
including from various points in the park and gardens famous views of 
Cader Idris and Snowdon, with the lesser mountains and intervening 
valleys, and also the magnificent estuary of the Mawddace, unsurpassed 
for its beauty. It is situated in the heart of Merionethshire, two to 
three miles distant from the ancient town of Dolgellan or “ Dolgelley,’ 
and is held by the ancient family of the Vaughans—originally Fychans 
—who are descended from one of the princes of N. Wales, and consequently 
held in high esteem by the natives, independent of the respect they have 
earned by their generosity and ever-lively interest in the welfare of the 
people. The mansion itself—massive, but architecturally plain—was 
built in the first years of the present century by Sir R. VV. Vaughan, the 
first baronet of the title, on the site of a former mansion, portions of 
which indeed now stand, and many stones from which bearing inscrip¬ 
tions are judiciously built in various parts of the present edifice, om; 
dating from the reign of Queen Elizabeth, others bearing inscriptions in 
Latin and ancient Welsh characters “ Coelbren Beiraa." 
The present proprietor, J. Vaughan, Esq., has done much to improve 
the place. The interior of the mansion has been renovated and beautified, 
and contains a splendid collection of pictures and other works of art, 
whilst new gardens have been made and planted on an elaborate scale 
and in the most tasteful manner. The usual and mostly objectionable 
straight lines are altogether dispensed with in all the arrangements, so 
that we see a most harmonious combination of art and nature. At such 
an elevation, too, it is surprising to see the luxuriance of vegetation. 
The best Rhododendrons seem quite as much at home as at Waterer’s 
famous Rhodo Nurseries. Conifene, ornamental trees and shrubs, 
Roses, <fcc., do remarkably well, the gardens abounding (particularly the 
old gardens) with wonderful specimens of Evergreen Oaks, Irish Yews, 
Araucarias, Thuias, &c., &c. The old garden referred to was for many 
years the wonder of N. Wales, and is to this day spoken of by the natives 
as perfection unattainable in this degenerate age. Some very large 
ornamental Yew hedges were removed a few years ago by Mr. Cooke, the 
present gardener, from here into the new gardens, where, notwithstand- 
