March 28, 1889. ] 
JOURNAL of horticulture and cottage gardener. 
259 
Lebanon, and healthy Wellingtonias, with a few Pines, such as P. excelsa 
and I“. Cembra, which thrive, and are assuming good proportions. Thuia 
gigantea also does well, but the special feature amongst these plants are 
the English and Irish Yews, which are very numerous, and remarkably 
vig rous in almost every case. Some object to Yews on the ground of 
their formality and sombreness of hue, and I must confess to having 
shared this feeling to some extent; but at Wynyard not the s.ightest 
objection can be urged against them—on the contrary, they possess 
attractions which I never fully realised before, and it is seldom that they 
are seen so plentifully employed as in the estate under notice. When 
plants, shrubs, or trees are in vigorous health it makes a great difference 
in their appearance, and the soil and situation seem exactly adapted to 
Yews at Wynyard. 
THE GARDENS. 
Like the other departments, the flower, fruit, and kitchen gardens 
are just what are expected in the best establishments, but which can 
never be produced wnere a too rigid economy is adopted, or practical 
skill is lacking. Happily in neither of these respects do the Wynyard 
in design ; tender summer bedding plants of the Pelargonium and 
Calceolaria type being almost exclusively employed in bold masses of 
colour, a few beds or panels of Violas and Harrison’s Musk being also 
planted. This system of bedding has been condemned as inartistic and 
commonp’ace, but neither of these demerits could be justly urged against 
it as carried out at Wynyard. At the time of my visit, though brilliant 
in colour, there was nothing obtrusive or glaring, because suificient 
foliage or neutral tints were employed as intermediaries ; and this is 
one of the secrets of success in flower-gardening. When bright colours 
are closely associated, especially those which do not harmonise, it is not 
surprising that ill effects are produced. Hardy plants are also favourites, 
and a recently'formed border, 225 yards long and 10 feet wide, contains a 
collection of nearly 400 species or varieties. A Yew hedge on the north 
side of this border constitutes a useful screen from winds, a kind of 
protection of the greatest importance for plants of this character. 
The kitchen and fiuit gardens comprise eleven acres, the soil gene¬ 
rally a good loam, somewhat heavy in parts, and with a clay subsoil; 
but it evidently suits both fruit trees and vegetables in no mean degree. 
Pears are chiefly grown against the walls, as bush and pyramid trees in 
Fig. If.—WYNYARD PARK. 
gardens suffer. They aie supported by a judicious liberality on the 
part of their owners, and the gardener, Mr. H. E. Gribble, has proved 
himself a worthy member of his calling by the excellent culture 
displayed in every department. It is always a pleasure to inspect a 
garden where nothing is neglected to give special prominence to some 
particular crop or plant; but it is seldom now that such gardens can be 
seen. Where large supplies of cut flowers are in demand this must 
receive first attention, and something else, if not absolutely suffering, 
cannot receive the attention needed to ensure its success. In other 
cases perhaps Grapes and fruit generally are regarded as the more 
important^ with resulting defects in other directions. Wbat particularly 
impressed me in the Wynyard gardens was the entire absence of a weak 
or partially attended department. Plants, flowers, fruits, and vegetables 
are all specialties as it were, and it is this character which has gained 
t ie garden its reputation as “a good all-round place.” 
It will not be necessary to enter into details of each department, but 
a few notes will indicate the style and extent of the work carried out. 
The flower garden covers 2£ acres, but is situated some distance from 
the mansion in front of the range of fruit houses, and is entered by 
Some elaborate and very handsome gates. The beds are large and simple 
the open have not been fo nd quite satisfactory. One fine trained tree 
of Marie Louise is a remarkably handsome specimen, 11 feet high, and 
extending horizontally over 50 feet, in splendid health and most fruit¬ 
ful, proving what can be accomplished in fruit culture even in such a 
cold district as East Durham. Cordons have also been planted freely, 
and are much approved, some of the varieties which have given most 
satisfaction being Williams’ Ron Chrfitien, Doyennd du Comice, 
Napoleon, Beurrd Diel, Easter Beurr6, Clapp’s Favourite, very useful 
for early crops ; Pitmaston Duchess, and Louise Bonne of Jersey. 
Apples, on the contrary, are all grown as bush trees and prove most 
reliable, never missing a crop. The roots are kept near the surface, 
occasional root-pruning is resorted to, the surface soil is dressed with 
bone dust after pruning and forked in lightly, a good mulching being 
applied in summer. To this treatment Mr. Gribble attributes his 
success, and the satisfactory results have induced a much extended 
planting of bush Apple trees, allowing a space 18 feet square to each 
tree, every row consisting of one variety only, the principal being Prince 
Albert, Blenheim Pippin, Itibston Pippin, King of the Pippins, Lodding- 
ton, Ecklinville, Tower of Glamis, Keswick Codlin, Lord Suffield, 
Cellini, Adams’ Pearmain, Scarlet Nonpareil, Cambusnethan, Worcester 
