144 
i 
THE FLORIST. 
BICTON, DEVON, 
THE SEAT or THE HON. LADY ROLLE. 
Few gardens have gained greater celebrity than those at Bicton. The 
extensive collections of plants, together with the favoured climate of 
that locality, have frequently been the subject of comment in gardening 
periodicals. The climate of Devonshire is considered by many so much 
more temperate than any other part of England, that to speak of a 
plant as being hardy there forms no criterion for any other part. The 
locality of Bicton is perhaps one of the most favoured in the county, 
and we think should not be considered a type ; for we question whether 
plants sufficiently hardy to withstand the severity of our winters in the 
valley of the Exe, and many other parts of the county, would do so 
in other parts of England. 
In passing from Exeter to Bicton the road leads over a hilly tract 
known as Woodbury Common, which rises some four or five hundred 
feet above the level of the neighbourhood of Bicton. From near the 
mouth of the Exe these hills take a circuitous direction, and terminate 
at the sea near Sidmouth, dividing that town, and sheltering Bicton in 
no small degree from winds on the north, north-east, and north-west 
points of the compass. From the summit of Woodbury Common the 
scenery is magnificent. To the right is the mouth of the Exe, on which 
the picturesque town of Exmouth is situated; and on the opposite bank 
of that river the towns of Dawlish and Teignmouth, with the irregular 
coast line to Torquay, are in view, presenting a variety of scenery of 
the most pleasing character. Directly in front of us the broad waters of 
the English Channel are exposed to view, and nearer the extensive 
park and grounds of Bicton. From what has been stated above it will 
be seen that this locality is most favoured for the growth of many 
somewhat tender plants, and we shall not be so much surprised to find 
that many plants requiring the protection of a greenhouse in less 
favoured situations are quite hardy here. The flower-garden at 
Bicton occupies the side of a hill which slopes to the south; at the 
higher, or north side, it is effectually screened by extensive ranges of 
plant and forcing houses, and on each side high hedges of the Exmouth 
Magnolia, which are again backed up with trees, protect it from 
unfavourable winds. Within the area of this garden many plants 
that are seldom met with out of doors flourish in great perfection. 
On a connecting wall at the higher part such plants as Magnolia 
fuscata and Aloysia citriodora (lemon-scented Verbena) attain an 
immense size, and are rarely injured by frost ; on the lawn are 
several masses of Camellias, consisting of most of the leading varieties 
in cultivation ; these grow and flower annually in great perfection. 
At the lower part of this garden there are several pieces of ornamental 
water, from which a narrow rivulet conducts the waste water through 
a portion of the valley which has recently been added to the flower- 
garden. On the margins of this rivulet the Arundo Donax is planted, 
and forms large tufts ten or twelve feet in height; this, with the 
Gynerium argenteum and Bambusa falcata (Himalayan Bamboo), 
