292 
THE FLORIST. 
with high gables, and with its older portions covered with Ivy and 
other creepers. Some extensive additions have been made by the present 
proprietor, who has judiciously preserved the main chaiacteristics of the 
older part in the new building, the whole harmonising most completely 
with the situation and surrounding scenery. The house is well placed 
for effect on the convex side of the valley, close to the hill behind it, 
which with its wooded summit makes a rich background, when viewed 
either from the lower or opposite side of the valley. An invisible iron 
fence separates the lawn which surrounds the front of the mansion from 
the park, and in crossing the bridge over the river on the line of 
approach the lawn is soon entered. We found here some well- 
managed flower-beds, interpersed with ornamental shrubs; and after 
passing the front a flight of steps leads up the slope of the hill—which 
nearly abuts to the mansion—towards the summit of which the very 
picturesque flower-garden has been laid out in a series of terraces 
connected by a variety of cross walks and steps. These terrace walks 
have accompanying borders, filled with a good variety of gay plants. 
In ope direction in the rear of the house a grassy slope, seventy yards 
long, has been substituted for the retaining wall, on which a line of 
semi-serpentine beds, with their base at the upper part of the slope, 
and planted in the ribbon style, was very showy and effective. The 
plants employed were yellow Calceolaria, scarlet Geranium, blue 
Lobelia, and variegated Alyssum for edging; in the open space between 
each curve was a small circular bed of scarlet Geraniums. At the end 
of this walk we again ascend by steps to a higher level, when we reach 
the main portion of the garden, occupying the upper slope of the hill. 
To give a description of this without a plan is impossible. A small 
conservatory occupies the higher ground, in front of which most of the 
beds are arranged; these, under the management of Mr. Flewelling, 
the head gardener, made a great display, and comprised all the showiest 
plants usually grown for bedding—the arrangement as regards colour 
was very good, and both this and the. rest of the numerous borders, 
terrace-walks, &c , were in the best keeping. Mr. Flewelling informed 
us that the larger garden contains seventy beds, which, to fill in the 
effective way in which we found them, besides the number wanted for 
borders, the lawn garden, vases, &c., must require no small skill to 
furnish annually. 
The view from this garden, which we should suppose to be near 
150 feet above the level of the valley, is very striking. The rich 
foreground of flowering plants, with the mansion, valley, and river 
immediately below the eye of the spectator, and bounded by the richly 
wooded slopes on the opposite side of the valley, produce a combination 
of features—natural and artificial—seldom brought so closely together. 
Nor is the view confined to the front of the spectator only. To the 
right, rising from the crest of the hill at the upper end of the valley, 
are the picturesque ruins of the old castle; while close on the left the 
fine tower of the parish church rising above the wood, which excludes all 
traces of the town (although within a stone’s throw), is equally striking. 
It would take up too much space for us to describe the different walks, 
terraces, &c., which complete this interesting garden ; we can only say 
