THE JFLORIST. 
328 
diluvium, formed of sand mixed with finely divided clay and chalk 
washed from the upland grounds surroundingjt, and vegetable matter 
partly drifted from the higher parts of the valley during floods, and 
partly grown and decomposed on the spot during the period of filling up. 
We need scarcely remind our readers that such soils are invariably 
rich, and when drained form some of the most fertile land in the king¬ 
dom ; and judging from the rich verdure of portions of meadow, visible 
from the line, better drained than the rest, this will possess the same 
fertility when once the water has been drained from it, when it will 
make a first-rate soil, not only for agricultural but horticultural pur¬ 
poses—one reason why we notice it so much at length. 
Somerleyton, since it came into the possession of Sir Morton Peto, has 
undergone a complete remodelling. On proceeding from the station, 
this is soon visible in the fences and hedges adjoining the road; and on 
reaching the village of Somerleyton, the clusters of picturesque cottages 
spread over the village in well-arranged groups, with their high gables 
and ornamental chimney shafts, gratified us as much by witnessing 
how considerately the comforts and conveniences of the inmates had 
been provided for by the in-door arrangements of the various styles of 
cottages,, as their well-kept gardens, where the useful was not alto¬ 
gether sacrificed to the ornamental, for we noticed an ample supply of 
vegetables in each, besides a gay assortment of showy flowers, and the 
walls were crowded with masses of gay Roses, Honeysuckles, and 
Jasmines. Nor must we omit mentioning that nearly every cottage 
garden had its store of bees in neatly kept hives. 
The mansion is no great distance from the village, and this too has 
undergone great alterations and additions. From being originally a 
plain brick edifice, it is now an imposing building in the Romanesque 
style, richly decorated, and having a noble portico in the centre of the 
garden front, surmounted by a lofty campanile tower. Immediately 
opposite this portico is the flower-garden—a design by Nesfield—laid 
out in a sunk panel. The design is laid down on white gravel, with 
massive Box edgings to the various scrolls and'beds. The white gravel 
forms a good contrast to the dark green of the Box, and brings out the 
figures in bold relief; altogether the effect is very good, the design 
possessing more breadth and boldness than we usually see in 
Nesfield’s designs. The beds were exceedingly well arranged as to 
colour, and although our visit was made so late as the first week in 
October the garden had still a gay appearance. Two large beds of the 
old Geranium Diadematum erubescens were still very gay with their 
rich rosy purple blooms, and Mr. Breadley informed us they had been 
in full bloom since June ; from what we saw of it, here and elsewhere, 
we are very much disposed to pronounce it the best bedding Geranium 
of its class, as it possesses a neat close-growing habit, with dark green 
foliage, and blooms abundantly throughout the season. Kentish Hero 
Calceolaria was also in fine condition, and makes a rich looking orange 
coloured bed, and, like the Geranium, blooms on till near Christmas. 
Beyond this panel garden is a geometrical lawn, separated from the 
park by a retaining wall surmounted by a very ornate balustrading: a 
large equatorial dial, on a richly carved marble pedestal, occupies the 
