September 3, 1891. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
199 
is of great benefit. All plants growing in pots in the open air 
should be syringed once a day in bright weather, and when the 
flowers begin to unfold should have the protection of glass. 
Chrysanthemum frutescens (white) and Etoile d’Or (yellow) 
are the best varieties to grow. — H. Dunkin. 
RAGLEY. 
The British as a nation may well be proud of the many palatial 
residences that are scattered throughout the kingdom, surrounded as 
they are in many instances by extensive and beautiful gardens. They 
stir up within our minds admiration for the beautiful in both Nature 
and Art, and by reason of their splendour tell of the greatness and 
prosperity of the past, in times when these massive piles were built, 
and the grounds around them laid out with so much taste and judgment. 
Ragley, the fine Warwickshire seat of the Marquis of Hertford, fully 
answers to the above description. It is situated about fifteen miles from 
Warwick and one mile from the quaint old town of Alcester, which was 
evidently built at a time when architectural adornments were not 
(indulged in for ordinary dwelling houses ; and even now those remnants 
of the pa9t, thatched and mossy roofs, still remain in the outskirts of 
the town, while the overhanging gables of the other houses and the 
crooked wells show that strength and substance in their building 
received more attention than the production of perpendicular walls. 
A pleasant drive through the park, which is chiefly remarkable for 
ats good roads and extensive and well wooded scenery, brings us to the 
front of the mansion, which lies open to the park, and being on high 
ground commands a fine view. No part of the flower garden or pleasure 
grounds are visible from this point, as they are shut off on each side by 
a long belt of trees and shrubs. The park being very extensive affords 
ample room for the fine herd of deer to roam in freedom, and they add 
a distinct feature to surrounding scenes. A large lake at the bottom 
of the grounds is frequently taken advantage of for holding aquatic 
sports. 
The Pleasure Grounds. 
On entering these a delightful scene presents itself. Winding walks 
bordered with grass verges sweep round in graceful curves in many direc¬ 
tions. The one which we instinctively pursued led to a charming rosery 
with a raised Rose temple in the centre, over which the long shoots of 
climbing Roses were wreathed with deep red flowers. The variety was 
one of those old semi-double Roses which few seem to know the name 
of, but all admire when seen in the perfection in which it is here 
•growing. Among the Rose beds the most striking was a mass of that 
general favourite La France. Pegged down shoots were carrying a 
wreath of fine flowers, and although I am no advocate for the pegging 
•down system for Roses generally, yet in this instance it undoubtedly 
answered well. A very effective boundary to this rosery is formed by 
» low hedge of Cupressus Lawsoniana pendula and erecta viridis inter¬ 
mixed. A long winding walk leads from this rosery to the flower 
garden, and a charming walk it is, abounding at each step with arboreal 
Sbeauty. Trees and shrubs of the choicest kinds have been planted 
extensively, and at the present time are in such vigorous health and so 
well proportioned in outline as to make one wish they would never grow 
larger, and so render unnecessary the removal of many of them. This 
is contemplated, and must be done to allow those left room for develop¬ 
ment. Picea Pinsapo, P. glauca, and P. Nordmanniana are represented 
by many fine healthy trees from 20 to 30 feet in height, with every 
branch perfect quite to the ground ; and Picea nobilis not quitr so large 
bearing fine cones. As we follow the windings of the walk we come 
upm stretches of velvety turf, skirted by irregular bands of Bhrubs, and 
many fine specimens of the numerous varieties of Cupressus till a 
bright glow of scarlet in the distance arrests attention. 
The Flower Garden. 
We find that the bright colour noticed on the approach is produced 
by the flowers of Donald Beaton Pelargonium. Old plants are trained 
te stakes in the form of a pyramid, and form grand objects, especially 
•when seen from the top of the long flight of steps up which we ascend 
to the heart of the flower garden. A massive square built mansion 
stands in front, of what style of architecture I know not, but is indeed 
a stately pile, and two other flights of steps have to be ascended to reach 
it, so that it is easy to imagine that a fine view is obtained of the flower 
garden and grounds below it. Nor does the beauty of the scene end 
here, as the finely wooded portions of the park, the planting of which 
has been the work of years, have all been carried out with the object 
of producing a grand view from the terrace around the mansion, and it 
only requires to be seen to know that the object is accomplished. Below 
are the large masses of we'l defined colours in the flower beds, then on a 
still lower level a long open stretch of park with trees dotted about in 
picturesque irregularity. Then as the ground slopes gradually upwards 
a thin and irregular belt of trees begins, which become thick and massvie 
as they extend far away in the horizon. Through the centre of this 
mass of trees the broad green swa r d extends upwards as far as the eye 
can reach, and being shaded on either side by the leafy canopy above, 
it forms a delightful retreat, which seems to impress the on-looker with 
■■a sense of quiet repose. 
To describe the flower garden in detail is a task by no means easy ; 
but I will attempt to give a faint idea of the grandeur of the scene — 
grand, because everything is on so large a scale : imposing, because 
■distinct colours are produced in large masses ; and it seems well nigh 
impossible to have the beds too bright in colour on account of the large 
number of green trees around. Standing on the terrace already men¬ 
tioned the two ends of the flower garden immediately in front are in the 
form of half circles ; the one nearest the mansion is formed by a sloping 
bank of grass. At the base of this a level strip of lawn extends to a 
broad gravel walk which runs round the whole garden. At the base of 
the bank round the centre are four large Portugal Laurels, trimmed 
into the form of half globes finely proportioned and perfect in shape. 
From this point a straight walk leads to a fine specimen of Cupressus 
Lawsoniana, surrounded by a large mass of Gladioli in the centre of 
the garden, then a broad band of Marshal McMahon Golden Bicolor 
Pelargonium, an edging of Mrs. Perry, and a narrow verge of lawn. 
The walk then continues its course to the lower end of the garden, 
where the half circular form is defined by a well-kept Yew hedge, 
which is of more than usual interest on account of being marked with 
bands of the Golden Yew at about every 12 feet, which have a novel and 
pleasing appearance. Around the central bed already described and 
divided from it by the gravel walk and grass verge is an imposing group 
of sub-tropical beds. The beds are filled with Cannas, Ricinus, Wigandias, 
and Nicotianas, edged with triangles of Beet, Marigolds, and variegated 
leaved Pelargoniums. Around these beds on each side of the central 
walk large fan-shaped beds, which have the same radius, are cut in 
the grass, and beyond these a band of long curved beds are arranged, the 
outline of them corresponding with the arc of the outer edge of the 
fan-shaped beds. Many of these beds are planted with a groundwork of 
Cerastium tomentosum, with a circle or centre the same form as the 
bed, filled in with Pelargoniums, Begonias, or Calceolarias. The effect 
is very good indeed, and is also a good way of economising bedding 
plants, a matter of some importance, where, as in this case, 100,000 
are required for bedding purposes. 
Other noteworthy beds were planted as follows : — Pelargonium 
Mrs. Perry, edged with Tom Thumb Ageratum ; Madame Crousse, with 
Alyssum variegatum ; and Henry Jacoby, edged with Manglesi. On the 
terrace which overlooks the larger portion of the garden some capital 
beds are cut in two grass panels. The central one is filled with Coleus 
Verschaffelti, edged with Lady Plymouth Pelargonium. This has quite 
a unique appearance. Several attractive carpet beds are also worked 
out. One deserving special attention is a double coronet, marked 
out with Alternanthera on a groundwork of Sedum. The wall that 
forms the boundary to this terrace has a border in front of it effectively 
planted in the following way. Back row next the wall Perilla 
nankinensis, next a half circle of Iresine Lindeni at some distance 
from it, the space being filled in with Master Christine Pelargonium. 
In front of the arc formed with Iresine is a groundwork of Mesem- 
bryanthemum filled in with Alternanthera magnifica, edged with 
blue Lobelia. The wall is clothed with Clematis Jackmanni and 
variegated Honeysuckle. This was one of the most telliog pieces of 
bedding in the whole garden. 
The Kitchen Garden and Glass Structures. 
These are situated half a mile from the mansion, on much lower 
ground. The greater part of the garden is enclosed within substantially 
built walls, and massive iron gates erected at the entrance give it a most 
imposing appearance. Large breadths of all kinds of vegetables such as 
are in constant demand for the supply of an extensive establishment 
were noticeable, but so much time was taken up in thoroughly exam'ning 
the flower and pleasure gardens as to leave little at our disposal for 
the inspection of the kitchen garden, which is about six acres in 
extent, including those portions set apart for hardy fruits The glass 
structures are numerous, but scattered. This i3 likely to be remedied 
to a great extent in the near future by erecting another range which 
will connect the principal portions of them A cool Peach house 
100 feet in length was first entered. The trees are trained one-third 
of the distance up the roof, the back wall being also covered. This 
gives a large amount of space for the production of fruit. All the 
trees were carrying heavy crops, Barrington Peach and Violette 
Hative Nectarine being great favourites. We next entered the 
principal range of fruit and plant houses. The vineries are four in 
number, and as there is a large demand for Grapes the Vines are 
heavily cropped. I should not like to conjecture the weight of fruit 
per running foot the Vines were carrying, but it was certainly con¬ 
siderably above what is generally regarded as a full crop, and the Vines 
will require high feeling to carry them through. This, however, they 
are receiving, judging by the heavy dressing of manure on the borders. 
The varieties in the earliest hou?e are Black Hamburgh, Buckland 
Sweetwater, and Madresfield Court, The other houses are filled with 
Muscats, Gros Colman, I ady Downe’s, Alicante, and Barbarossa (Gros 
Guillaume). There are also two Peach houses in this range, one being 
cleared of fruits, the other having a fine crop of Barrington just ripening. 
The roof of the greenhouse is covered with Plumbigo capensis, a fine 
plant of Mardchal Niel Rose, and Lapageria. The side stages were 
occupied with Pelargoniums, Begonias, Fuchsias, and other plants, 
with Palms in the central bed, all good for decorative purposes. In one 
stove two grand plants of Adiantum farleyense show that the cultivation 
of this beautiful Fern is understood at Ragley. Gardenias and Cucum¬ 
bers were growing in another house both in the best of condition. 
Among a mixed collection of Orchids, Calanthes and that fine ohl plant 
Phaius grandifolius were in fine condition. Several other pit-like houses 
of the type which were in vogue when wood was cheap and glass dear 
are sti’l in use, and are found convenient for wintering bedding plants, 
and for growing Ferns, Azaleas, and Melons in. 
