©ctotor 4, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
315 
Prince of Wales’ Plain a part of the old Caledonian Forest, which 
can be traced right through to Hamilton. It may be well to state 
that there is no exact account of the wild cattle, but such a learned 
authority as Storer states that from anatomical construction they 
are the pure type of the wild cattle, which were no doubt left intact 
through the preservation of this part of the old Caledonian Forest. 
In the home farm there are just now three steers crossed by a short¬ 
horn bull, these are three years, two years, and nine months respectively; 
the two former are a first cross, and are now being fed for show at 
.Smithfield Cattle Market. As these are the first animals ever shown 
tor open sale in the market they are sure to cause a great furore. 
Near to the encampment we were shown Hepburn Wood, which 
is a natural forest, consisting of Alder, Oak, Birch, and Elm. This is 
another remnant of the Caledonian Forest. Near by are the remains of a 
very perfect bastile or Pele, the President of the Society, Mr. Cadwallar 
Bates, having lately published a book on the old Peles, interesting to 
antiquaries and archaeologists, the lower portion of this had also a 
from the castle. In one plantation is a fine Silver Fir about 120 feet 
high, 11 feet 2 inches in diameter, and has about 90 feet of clear bole. 
In the main entrance there is a splendid avenue of Lime trees. Near 
to these is a curious Oak, 22 feet in circumference, for 10 feet high. 
The base is not rough but very broad. In one of the liorse-pasture 
fields are Oaks, Plane trees, and Limes planted twenty-five years ago, 
that were about 20 feet high when they were shifted, the operation 
having proved a great success. From these through King James’s Gate 
we entered the finely terraced garden (fig. 36) already referred to. 
It is on the west side of the Castle. From the bottom of the grassy 
terrace is a level plateau of about 130 yards long, the northern boundary 
is an embattled wall, which is profusely clad with very fine creepers, 
Clematis .Tackmanni, Cydonia japonica, Mareehal Niel Rose, Wistaria, 
Ampelopsis Yeitchi being amongst the number. All the beds are 
geometrical figures, and as it is a mixture of all the old styles the effect 
is most pleasing. Some beds of Roses, apparently Fellenberg, are within 
little Yew hedges, and these margined with Alpines in circles, consisting of 
Fig. 36.—CHILLINGHAM CASTLE FLOWER GARDEN. 
■dungeon. Visiting the castle and gardens again, Mr. Mechi pointed out 
n interesting reminiscence of fairy lore. Beside a fine Oak tree is 
a ring nearly oval of about 20 yards in diameter, and in the centre is a 
hole amongst stone 3 , the herbage is completely worn away, and yet Mr. 
Mechi, after forty years’ constant observation, has never observed a living 
animal of any kind round it. Of course the reader can imagine the in¬ 
teresting tales of this supposed fairy abode. In a dell there are some 
fine Conifer® planted in pinetum fashion, including Picea Pinsapo, 
‘Cupressus Lawsoniana, 25 feet, Picea nobilis, and some Wellingtonias. 
Before entering the alpine garden along the Axis Walk are some fine 
•double Thorns and Hollies. There are also some splendid trees of 
Spanish Chestnuts, 14 feet in diameter 3 feet from the ground. The 
alpine garden contains a very fine collection of plants and the American 
garden also. Hybrid Rhododendrons had made very good growths, 
and amongst them was Lilium giganteum, with a spike 10 feet high, 
'these spikes had from sixteen to eighteen expanded flowers, and fill the 
air with their agreeable fragrance. Near it is a fine Tew hedge leading 
Sedum acre variegatum, Mentha Pulegium gibraltarica, Sedum glaucum, 
and Antennaria tomentosa. Phlox beds were also similarly designed. In 
the centre of some of the beds were Saponaria calabrica, a very bright 
Malva, its silvery foliage and Perilla nankinensis having an uncommon 
good effect, Scrophularia and Tropmolum Cooperi were also a pleasing 
combination. Of course in all these gardens Yew hedges form a con¬ 
spicuous figure. There were four squares of about 20 yards suirounded 
with Yew hedges 2 feet high, top quite flat, and inside was neatly mown 
grass. Against the embattled wall was a fine ribbon border. Yellow 
and brown Calceolarias were very fine. Scarlet Pelargoniums and 
Pompon Dahlias formed an effective and appropriate arrangement for 
this fine flower garden. 
The kitchen garden is oblong in form, enclosed in two divisions 
by very good walls. On entering we were struck with the splendid 
annual Candytufts we have never observed so large, and the same may 
be said of Malopes, Sweet Peas, and Sunflowers. The kitchen is well 
stocked with Apple trees. Mr. Henderson finds Prince Albert do well 
