630 
[ Jane :6, 1890. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
Eythrope, where I found one of the most charming unpretentious 
establishments it has ever been my good fortune to visit. The 
Vale of Aylesbury on a warm but slightly hazy June morning was, 
after the rains, looking at its best, exceedingly fresh and luxuriant, 
while the Chiltern HiUs in the distance gave a little more character 
to the scene than most of our low southern hills afford. The 
drive of about four miles from the quaint old town of Aylesbury 
under such circumstances was most agreeable, and a fitting prepara¬ 
tion for the pedestrian exercise to follow under the charge of my 
lady guide. Crossing an antiquated stone bridge gives the first 
view of the River Thame and its beautiful boundary, the gardens 
and grounds of Eythrope ; and passing a bijou lodge a fine curving 
drive brings us to the house familiarly known as the Pavilion. 
There Miss Alice awaited me, and under her instructive guidance I 
commenced a most pleasant inspection of the garden which has been 
gradually formed in accordance with her tasteful direction. Fourteen 
years ago Eythrope, though possessing considerable historical 
interest, dating back to an early period, having been originally the 
site of an ecclesiastical establishment of some kind, was in a state 
of neglect ; in fact, it is said to have been little more than a 
swamp and a wilderness, yet the situation possessed what a famous 
landscape gardener would have termed “ great capabilities,” espe¬ 
cially for a summer residence, and it was by a development of 
these qualities that the present garden has been obtained. Few 
have the satisfaction of seeing the full realisation of their ideas in 
what may be considered a comparatively short time, but Eythrope 
has not a suspicion of newness about it. If we were told it had 
been formed a hundred years since it could be easily believed, and 
this is one of the many instances the place affords of the thought¬ 
ful application of art. 
In one short visit it would not be possible to grasp all the 
details of such a garden, but a general review of its chief features 
may be attempted, and then some of its specialties will be worth 
attention. First then, to commence with statistics, the estate 
comprises about 1550 acres, GO of which are devoted to the garden, 
and the remainder constitute the farm and park, the latter an 
undulating and far-reaching expanse of rich green turf, divided 
from the garden by a sunk fence, and well stocked with cattle. 
The picturesque and climber-clad Pavilion (fig. 70) stands upon 
a slight eminence, and therefore commands a view over the greater 
portion of the garden with delightful vistas across the river into 
the park. To the south and east a wonderful lawn slopes from 
the house, and this alone is a remarkable feature. It covers a 
space of 20 acres, not in one unbroken expanse, but relieved at 
suitable positions by shrubberies, clumps of Rhododendrons, 
specimen trees, and flower beds, and the whole is formed of a soft, 
close, fresh, green turf in excellent keeping, and quite in accord 
with the general style of the garden. 
The River. 
One of the chief natural features of Eythrope is the river which 
forms a partial boundary to the garden on two sides, the east 
.and the south, and full advantage in all respects has been taken of 
this. An extent of over a mile and a half has been obtained, one 
portion to the south has been widened into a lake-like expanse, 
islands have been formed or improved, the banks have been planted, 
and the whole managed with the utmost skill. The result is a 
thoroughly natural piece of water, as though one of the charming 
reaches of the upper Thames had been transferred bodily, with 
numerous added but appropriate attractions. There are no bare 
and formal banks here, such as in some older gardens have caused the 
rivers to be stigmatised as canals and the lakes as tanks. Rigid lines 
and monotony in every respect have been carefully and consistently 
avoided, and I do not remember ever seeing, either in Great Britain 
or on the Continent, so successful an example of tasteful natural 
water management on the sime scale. The journey by boat from 
the garden steps to a little “old English” tea house, and then to the 
bridge and back, gives an excellent idea of what has been done, and 
also affords some pleasing peeps of the garden and the Pavilion. 
The beds of Rhododendrons and Azaleas have an especially bright 
effect in the distance, while nearer at hand is a bed of brilliant 
Poppies with a background of Golden Yews, which can be seen for 
some distance along the river, and constitutes a charming picture 
in itself. The grand rich flowers of the Oriental Poppy and the 
lighter shade of the variety Prince of Orange harmonise well 
together with the Yews, the bright green of the turf between the 
plants and the water serving as an agreeable foil to such a mass of 
colour. Upon the banks, either overhanging or providing welcome 
shade, are graceful Willows in abundance and variety, vigorous 
Horse Chestnuts and Maples, with plentiful flowering shrubs, 
extend back from tbe river, giving depth and character to the scene. 
At the margin of the banks, or in the water itself, the yellow 
English Iris flourishes in grand clusters with the towering Giant 
Bulrush, and countless other smaller water plants. The Japanese, 
the Spanish, the English, and German Irises find suitable places, 
and peep out at irregular intervals along tha banks ; little groups of 
Rockets and other flowering plants are also seen at different points. 
Special efforts have been made to impart as much variety as possible 
without descending to trivialities, and more than ordinary success 
has been achieved, for there is nothing to tire the eye, there is suf¬ 
ficient motion in the water to prevent stagnation, and the islands 
which add so much to the effect of a stream or lake when well 
managed have heen rendered picturesque without losing their 
agreement with the surrounding scenery. 
The Italian and Dutch Gardens. 
But there are other features to be noted, and we must hurry 
along, or my notes will not be compressed witbin reasonable limits 
for one article. The principles referred to in the few introductory 
words have been acted upon consistently throughout, and though 
Miss de Rothschild admits a greater preference for the natural 
style, she yet rightly considers that in a garden of sufficient extent 
the artificial should also be represented if suitable positions can be 
provided. Thus we find near the Pavilion an Italian garden with 
bold angular beds in the geometrical style, but not in an intricate 
design, and comparatively few varieties of plants are used. Masses 
of Pelargoniums—Henry Jacoby, Mrs. Turner, Black Douglas, and 
the Pink or Salmon Vesuvius—constitute the leading features, 
furnishing a very rich and imposing colouring. Near by are large 
banks of Rhododendrons and Azaleas, w'hich were only just 
beginning to lose their flowers. In some of these beds and near 
the house a succession of Lilies is provided, which prolongs their 
floral attractions far into the summer. 
Along a terrace and path to the east of the Pavilion we came 
to the carpet beds planted in neat and effective designs, novel 
conical mounds of Pelargoniums, and a gigantic bird-like design 
raised as a pedestal, the framework formed of iron, filled with 
soil and moss, and closely planted with Alternantheras, Lobelias, and 
Spergula to represent the colouring seen in some tropical birds. 
A bed of deep blue Violas, with the silver-edged Princess Alex¬ 
andria Pelargoniums, and margined with Crystal Palace Gem, was 
attractive near this ; also some fine beds of Fuchsias. Upon the 
other side of the lawn is a series of similar beds in a hollow below 
the level of the turf, Pelargoniums, Centaureas, and Tuberous 
Begonias being employed chiefly. Then there is one other formal 
department to be noticed, the Dutch garden, near the gardener’s 
house, and seen from a raised terrace of turf the small beds have a 
neat and varied appearance, and it is worthy of remark that 
Clianthus Dampieri is being there tried planted out, and seems to be 
established. 
The Wilderness, Mexican, and Wild Gardens. 
In a garden so essentially natural as Eythrope it is a relief to 
turn even from the moderate representation of the formal to 
something of a freer and more picturesque character. About an 
acre of ground is devoted to the wilderness, which ii only a short 
distance from the Pavilion, and presents a piece of wild nature that 
is at any time in the summer restful and shady, but which in the 
early spring must be delightful. Tall and spreading trees are 
plentiful, having been preserved from the older garden, the 
undergrowth has nearly all been planted, but the shrubs and young 
trees are now so well established, and have made such vigorous 
growth, that they form a dense thicket of a thoroughly uncon¬ 
ventional character. Narrow irregular moss-covered walks penetrate 
this in all directions, and winding about in a mazy, but indetermi¬ 
nate plan, they convey the idea that the extent is much greater than 
it really is. Beneath the shade of trees and shrubs Primroses, 
Blue Bells, and Violets flourish, and the seed vessels and flower 
stems prove what a floral feast has been provided earlier in the 
season. Here and there a partial clearance has been made to bring 
into bolder relief some handsome old tree, and several grand Scots 
Firs and Abeles rear their heads on massive stems to a great height. 
Ferns, too, in countless thousands luxuriate in moist seclusions of 
this wilderness, all collected and introduced from distant shires, 
for Buck.s is not a ferny county. 
The Mexican garden is devoted to groups of succulent plants 
chiefly, and conspicuous there are Alp-like mounds clothed from 
base to summit with the silvery Antennaria. The wild garden 
comprises an undergrowth of Ivies in about forty varieties, rambling 
about in the greatest freedom, and a mixture of shrubs with various 
herbaceous plants in unrestrained profusion, clumps of Funkias 
telling effectively amongst them. 
Roses. 
A chapter might be devoted to the Roses at Eythrope, for they 
rank as one of the special features, and they are evidently great 
favourites. The rather heavy soil appears to suit them extremely 
' well, their growth, foliage, and flowers affording most satisfactory 
