510 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Jane 24, 1888. 
We start from Garston again, on the Cheshire line. The journey 
should be broken at Hunt’s Cross, the next station, for the purpose of in¬ 
specting the gardens at Woolton Wood, where Halbrook Gaskell, Esq., 
grows his famous collection of Orchids, which is the largest private collec¬ 
tion in this neighbourhood. The gardens are twenty minutes’ walk from 
the station, and in addition to Orchids there are to be seen collections of 
Ferns, a pretty fernery, alpine and herbaceous plants. Only a few 
minutes’ walk from the front entrance to Woolton Wood is Camp Hill, 
the home and gardens of F. H. Gossage, Esq. (gardener, Mr. J. Jellico). 
This is certainly worth seeing, for Mr. Jellico does things wonderfully 
well, and has been one of the successful competitors at Liverpool for some 
years. Leaving here Gateacre station should be steered for, which is 
twenty minutes’ walk from Woolton. The line taken is straight through 
the village and on until Gateacre Brow is reached, which is the first road 
on the right, and leads to the station. Upon entering the Brow the 
residence of Sir A. B. Walker, Bart., is on the left-hand side, hut to enter 
this place it is necessary to pass the entrance to the Brow a few hundred 
yards, the house and gardens being then on the right. Mr. Glover is the 
gardener, and will be known to many from his position for a time as 
Secretary of the Liverpool Horticultural Association. 
From Gateacre the train should be taken for West Derby, which is 
twenty minutes’ walk from the village. No one will be disappointed by 
paying a visit to this fine place, for it will be found perfectly clean. It is 
one of the most extensive gardening establishments, and perhaps the best 
kept garden in Lancashire ; it, however, is decidedly the best in the 
neighbourhood of Liverpool. Mr. B. Barham has charge of Croxteth 
gardens. 
Knowsley Hall must not be omitted, for it is the most extensive garden 
about Liverpool. It is four miles from West Derby, and when at the 
Earl of Sefton’s, if permission can be gained to pass through the Park, 
Knowsley will be reached in half an hour’s brisk walk. It can, however, 
be reached by the London and North-Western railway from Edge Hill or 
Lime Street station to Huy ton station, from which it is two and half miles. 
This is rather a long walk, but the acres of Rhododendron ponticum grow¬ 
ing naturally on the moss, when all are in bloom, form a beautiful sight, 
and one that is not quickly forgotten. Gardeners must visit Knowsley, 
for they will be well repaid for the walk necessary to reach this gigantic 
gardening establishment. When at Knowsley ask Mr. Harrison to direct 
you to Mr. Whittaker’s Cucumber-growing establishment; it is not fa? 
away on the Knowsley estate. In this establishment Cucumbers are 
grown without ventilation, and tons are cut weekly. 
One more trip for a change will be detailed, and then I close thin 
Fig. 93. —Nobhis gbeen. 
the third one after leaving. It may not be convenient to venture out 
to West Derby if the day has been fairly spent in visiting the places 
referred to. This, however, is a matter for each individual to decide for 
himself. West Derby can be reached by trams from town for 4d., which 
pass Lime Street station every quarter of an hour. Visitors often make 
a mistake with these trams, because there are others with West Derby 
Road upon them, but these are of no service for the traveller to West Derby. 
The trams are green, and have the name on the front as well as the back. 
The Green Lane tram will do very well, it passes the same place, and by 
it passengers should pay to Tue-Brook Railway bridge, and then follow 
the same ’bus a few hundred yards—namely to Green Lane Corner, where 
it turns from the main road and passes along another to the right. Wait 
at this corner for the West Derby tram, and ride until it stops in 
the centre of the village. West Derby can also be reached by train 
from the Central, fare 5d., third class, although this line goes on through 
Garston, many of the trains reach West Derby in a little more than half an 
hour. When the tram is left in the village of West Derby ask for Norris 
Green (fig. 93), the drive gate being in a straight line for the village, and 
only five minutes walk from it. Everybody can tell the stranger the way 
to Norris Green, the name of which, as well as that of the gardener, Mr. 
W. Bardney, is well known to the readsrs of this Journal. 
From the village of West Derby will be seen the lordly entrance to 
Croxteth Hall, the seat of the Earl of Sefton (fig. 94). The gardens are 
“ Gardener’s Guide ” for Liverpool. From Lime Street, or from Birken¬ 
head, the station close to where the tram starts for the Park, Chester 
may be reached ; from the former the fare is Is. 9d., and from the latter 
Is. 5d. The two largest provincial nurseries in this part of the country 
are side by side in the vicinity of the old city of Chester. The Newton 
Nurseries (Messrs. James Dickson & Sans) are ten minutes’ walk from the 
station, and the Upton Nurseries, those of Messrs. F. and A. Dickson & Sons, 
twenty minutes. A’bus runs to the latter from EaBtgate Street. These 
Nurseries are well worth visiting when in the neighbourhood of Liver¬ 
pool. While at Chester, Eaton Hall, the residence of the Duke of West¬ 
minster, should be visited. This is four miles away, but a ’bus leaves the 
tram offices close to the station for Eaton Hall daily, starting at 2 P.H. 
and returns at 5 P.M., return fare Is. 6d. Steamers also leave the river 
every half hour, return fare on these Is. What can I say for Eaton Hall 
gardens ? They are a treat in store for those who have not seen them, 
and if Liverpool is visited set one day apart for Chester to see the 
nurseries and one of the finest gardening establishments in the north of 
England. 
In conclusion, I advise all gardeners, when they arrive in Liver¬ 
pool, to buy BensoD’s Liverpool PeDny Railway Guide, which gives 
all the local trains, steamers, ’buses, and trams, their starting points and 
destination, as well as the exact time between each ’bus or tram. Bring 
also the Journal of Horticulture in your pocket, or that portion of it that 
