278 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ September 24, 188R. 
exhibit and reap their due reward.” If this advice is acted upon by any 
young man beginning his career as a head gardener, he will, I feel sure, 
never regret doing as Mr. Hammond suggests. Too many employers 
have cause to feel annoyed at “ showing ” being considered before them¬ 
selves, and it is not to be wondered at that they sometimes stop it.—S. 
BEDDING VIOLAS. 
I have read with pleasure the remarks of your correspondent, Mr. W. 
Dean, at page 178, concerning these both charming and useful bedding 
plants. I can endorse much which he has written respecting them. As 
Mr. Dean very rightly observes, the hot dry weather has thoroughly 
tested the staying powers and constitutions of these plants; not that we 
should discard them on this account, for the test has been exceptional, 
and not a few will discover which have suffered most—the late-spring or 
the early-autumn-planted. If spring effect is desired the earlier planting 
is done in autumn the greater the chances of success ; if for summer bedders 
transplant in autumn. Whether or not the Viola suffers most in dry 
summers in light or heavy soils I have not quite determined. There are 
drawbacks in both soils. Deep cultivation and heavy mulchings of short 
manure, spent hops, or similar material, is the means of avoiding the evils 
of a dry season. Yellow Dwarf, the gem of all yellows, scarcely exceed¬ 
ing Id height that of the general strain of Lobelia, unequalled in its 
floriferousness, has suffered terribly this season, and I doubt if a sufficient 
stock will be saved to keep up the supply. The same remark may be 
applied with equal force to the majority of the Queen of Spring strain, 
from which Yellow Dwarf is a seedling. These lack the constitution re¬ 
quisite to carry them through such a summer as this ha3 been; and seeing 
that constitution is of the highest possible value in connection with these for 
bedding purposes, we have yet to continue our experiments in this direc¬ 
tion, and endeavour to obtain size of flower and free blooming with the 
compact habit of Yellow Dwarf, and at the same time possessing the 
vigour displayed by lutea perfecta and Ardwell Gem—the latter a prim¬ 
rose, an early and continuous bloomer, very desirable. Failure seems 
very general among the yellows, while at the same time whites, blues, 
and purples can be spoken of much more favourably. Even at this late 
date (September 10th) I have lovely blossoms of Countess of Hopetoun, 
which, as a white, surpasses any variety known to me. It is of short 
sturdy habit, and free flowering. Next in whites is the highly fragrant 
Mrs. Gray, and then if we want the other extreme for contrast we can 
get supplied with it in Archie Grant, an exquisite dark violet blue, with 
well-rounded flowers, and a capital summer bedder ; but as a spring 
bedder nothing can equal True Blue. It is well to remind the readers of 
the Journal that these Violas are among the most useful and attractive 
plants in the spring garden, and that it is impossible to overrate Ike 
value of many for general decorative purposes.—J. 
CECIL LODGE, ABBOTS LANGLEY. 
Cecil Lodge, the country seat of Howard Gilliat, Esq., is situated in 
the quaint old parish of Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire, and not far 
distant from the main line of the London and North-Western Railway. 
The ride from Euston to King’s Langley, which is the nearest station to 
Abbots Langley, the lakes being about a mile and a half distant, occupies 
about three-quarters of an hour, during which you traverse an interesting 
portion of Middlesex and the picturesque vale of Herts. The latter 
county, or rather the portion through which you pas3 to King’s Langley, 
is boldly undulated, the frequent ranges of hills richly clothed with 
trees, the pleasant well-watered and cultivated valleys, with peaceful- 
looking rural farmsteads, and villages with their quaint old-fashion 
churches, are scenes which make a favourable impression on the traveller. 
Two centuries ago these peaceful valleys were not so quiet as they are 
now, as hereabouts during the wars of Cromwell were many conflicts. 
But it is not so much with the history of the county that we are now con¬ 
cerned, as with the gardens of Cecil Lodge. Accordingly, alighting at 
King’s Langley, a walk of a mile and a half, nearly all uphill, brings us 
to the prettily situated house of Mr. Vincent, the able gardener at Cecil 
Lodge. Mr. Vincent’s domicile is some distance from the garden, but 
it is comfortable spacious house, with a considerable amount of lawn 
in front. 
The mansion is a commodious structure of a not very elaborate style of 
architecture, and was, previous to Mr. Gilliat coming into possession, the 
residence of the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, M.P. It is situated in a some¬ 
what elevated position, and commands extensive views of the charming 
scenery of the surrounding country, with Welling Abbey in the distance. 
The general style of the pleasure grounds is very pleasing, there being a 
boldness of outline and originality of design not frequently met with. 
There has not been any attempt to introduce a number of meaningless 
walks, and thus cut up and disfigure the beauty of the lawn, neither are too 
many beds allowed to interrupt the vision from the principal windows. 
Beds of Roses, Pansies, Polyanthus, Mignonette, Heliotrope, Pelargoniums, 
and other useful and sweet-scented flowers are skilfully disposed on the 
margins of the lawn, and borders of old-fashion flowers form a margin 
to the shrubberies. 
A few remarkably fine specimens of Conifers are a special feature in 
the pleasure grounds. A thoroughly robust and handsome specimen of 
Abies Smithiana has attained a great size, als > a Pmus insignis, Cedrus 
Libani, and C. Deodara. There is a noble example of the Oriental Plane, 
and a similar one of the British Oak, which cover a large area. A large 
specimen of the Judas Tree (Cercis siliquastrum) is there, as well as a few 
other important shrubs and trees. The grass seemed of a very fine texture. 
and is kept in excellent trim. One not very common feature was a number 
of bulb beds formed by planting Crocuses of various colours and Daffodils 
in geometrical outlines under the shade of the large trees. In the spring 
these bulbs shoot up and flower through the sward, and being planted with 
various colours, they are very effective. The majority of the bulbs had, we 
believe, been planted for years. This simple plan is therefore commend¬ 
able to everyone who can afford to plant a few bulbs under the shade of 
trees for spring flowering. Passing towards the vegetable gardens we 
entered the Rose garden, which contains some of the best varieties. On 
the one side of the latter is a small lake, in which Water Lilies abound, 
and quantities of the Fleur de Lis (Iris Pseudacorus). On the Rose garden 
side of the lake is a series of beds devoted to growing Watercress, which 
is in much request for the family winter and summer. These beds are 
about 4 feet wide and 1 foot deep, the sides and bottom being of brick 
cemented over. There is a small tap at the top end of the beds, and 
through this water is kept constantly trickling at a slow rate, thereby 
causing a constant motion and supply of water to pass through the tanks. 
The beds are renewed twice a year, in the autumn planted with Winter 
Cress, and in the spring with Summer Cress. These beds are very satis¬ 
factory, and where this salad is esteemed, and space permits, a small bed 
might easily be managed. 
The vegetable garden is of considerable extent. Good crops of Peas, 
Onions, Potatoes, and indeed all kinds of vegetables, are grown in the best 
possible condition. Bush fruit and Strawberries exist in quantity, and a 
few good trees of Pears, Plums, are to be seen on the walls and the sides 
of the garden only. A bower of skilfully trained Pear trees is formed 
over the meeting points of the four walks in the centre of the garden. 
This serves a twofold purpose—affords a shady arbour, and produces fruit 
at the same time. New borders are being formed on one side of this 
garden for growing the best varieties of herbaceous plants. There is an 
outside slip to the vegetable garden which is planted with standard Roses, 
and also acts as a nursery for raising plants for spring bedding and other 
purposes. There are some pleasant walks around this, and some fine 
specimens of Wellingtonia gigantea, Pinus insignis, Cryptomeria japonica, 
Cupressus Lawsoniana, Cedars, &c. One of these walks leads to a pretty 
dell, skilfully formed of rockwork, and consisting of miniature waterfalls 
and caves. 
The vineries, Peach and Fig houses are situated along the top of the 
vegetable garden, and although the former are not of modern construction, 
yet Mr. Vincent does not fail to make them answer his purpose and pro¬ 
duce good samples of Grapes, though be has for want of room to 
make his vineries do duty as plant houses too. One house has, in addition 
to Vines, to grow pot Roses, another Geraniums, and so on, to supply the 
requirements of the family, who reside for a greater part of the year in 
town. Another house was carrying a heavy and well-finished crop of 
Black Hamburghs, another Muscats, and so on. A house in the centre of 
the range is full of useful stove plants of a miscellaneous type, another 
house to growing Roses, such as Marcchal Niel. There are two Peach 
houses, and both are filled with healthy free-bearing trees of Royal 
George, Late Admirable, and Rivers’ Orange Nectarine. 
The Fig house is a special feature, as it certainly deserves to be, for 
better grown and fruited examples of Brown Turkey we have never seen. 
The trees are trained on a trellis close to the glass, and nearly every 
shoot was carrying fine fruit. Plenty of water and abundance of air 
appears to be Mr. Vincent’s practice. Tomatoes were being grown in 
pots against the back wall of this house, and very good they were. 
In another portion of the vegetable garden there is a very large span- 
root orchard house, in which there are planted out along the sides Cherries 
and Peaches, and in the centre standard Peach and Nectarine trees, all of 
which were carrying a more or less heavy crop of fruit. Mr. Vincent 
grows a vast quantity of the best varieties of Chrysanthemums, which he 
finds to be of great service to him in keeping up a supply of cut bloom 
from November until an advanced period in the new year. This large 
orchard house is specially valuable for housing such a great quantity of 
Chrysanthemums. Another span-roof structure, divided into two com¬ 
partments, is filled, one with Cucumbers, and the oiher used as a propa¬ 
gating house. Frames are filled with the lovely Neapolitan Violets. 
This variety Mr. Vincent prefers to grow entirely in a frame, and his 
plants certainly testify that he is doing the right thing. Adjacent is a 
Mushroom house, which is used chiefly for winter work, the young men’s 
rooms, tool, and other sheds. Water is rather scarce here, and what 
they have has to be pumped up by means of a steam-engiqe from a very 
deep well in the garden, and then forced up into an immense tank raised 
on powerful iron columns connected by powerful traces to the height of 
100 feet. The water from this tank can thus be forced to any part of the 
grounds. Taken altogether, our visit to Cecil Lodge and Abbots Langley 
was a very pleasant one, and although we have not dwelt in detail on all 
the many objects of note, yet we saw the good effects of the marked 
improvement which Mr. Vincent is gradually making under many diffi¬ 
culties in the several departments of the garden under his charge.— 
T. W. S. 
CEANOTHGS DENTATUS. 
With a few exceptions the plants of the Buckthorn family are not 
remarkablo for the beauty of their flowers ; the Ceanothes, introduced to 
this country from California, will, however, do much to increase the 
interest attached to this tribe. The flowers are, individually, very small, 
but this minuteness is fully compensated for by the profusion with which 
they are produced. The foliage, too, is extremely neat, especially in the 
