JULY. 
197 
Hastings can be seen; and wood and hamlet, church spires peeping 
through the foliage, and streams threading their way like a silver string 
through the verdant meadows, form a picture not easily forgotten; and 
then at Sevenoaks he may take the road to Bromley, passing again 
some lovely spots, or he may drive through the valley that leads from 
Chenie to Westerham, a valley at a considerable elevation, but dotted 
with the residences of many of our nobility and gentry. Knole, the 
seat of the Earl of Amherst, but celebrated as one of the oldest and 
most historic houses in Kent; Chevening, the residence of the Earl of 
Stanhope (better known as Lord Mahon, the historian); Squerries, 
the ancient domain of the Wardes, are among those most worthy of 
notice. At Westerham, if he be a gardener, he will find too that for 
which I was bound the other day, the quiet, but productive, nursery 
of Mr. John Cattell. It is one with which I have been for many 
years acquainted, when it was under the management of the elder Mr. 
Cattell, one of those sturdy honest yeomen who contented with “ keeping 
near shore,” cared not to launch out into those less safe seas, where 
more gain might have accrued. He last year entered into his rest, 
full of years, and honoured and respected by his friends, who were 
many, and his nursery is now under the more enterprising manage¬ 
ment of his son. The place is at present somewhat difficult of access, 
Edenbridge being at present the nearest point of access, and though 
only four miles, yet as a very high and steep hill intervenes between 
it and Westerham, it has not been found possible to make a public 
conveyance pay. When the new branch of the Dover and East Kent 
line is open it will be more easy to reach ; but I am sure that if anyone 
desires to pay Mr. Cattell a visit, he wdll be always ready to send a 
conveyance to the station ; and not only will they find a nursery replete 
with many plants in excellent health, but also a pleasant drive, more 
pleasant than a walk I once took there, when my zeal for floriculture 
drew down on me a hearty laugh, my friends being fully persuaded 
that nothing but there being a lady in the case could have accounted 
for such a walk on such a day, and nothing I could do could remove 
the impression. 
Since my last visit to these nurseries, considerable improvements have 
been made in the grounds leading from the seed shop to the green¬ 
houses. A new broad nicely gravelled walk has been formed, fringed 
on either side with borders of specimen Conifers; amongst these 
I noticed flne plants of Wellingtonia gigantea, Cupressus Lawsoniana, 
Thujopsis or Cupressus Nutktensis, Thuja Lobbi and gigantea; Abies 
nobilis, Douglasii, amabilis, and grandis; Pinus excelsa, insignis, and 
other kinds; Cedrus Deodara, &c. &c.; in fact, a general collection of 
the Coniferous tribe; and although these have all been planted since 
last September, and fully exposed to the north-east winds, the only 
plants that have suffered to any extent are Pinus insignis ; all the 
others are looking remarkably well, considering the severe ordeal they 
have undergone. There were a quantity of Araucaria imbricata as 
fresh and green as possible, and as handsome young specimens as 
could be wished for; and yet Laurestinus, Bays, Aucubas, and many 
other evergreens suffered severely—the two first named killed to the 
ground. Cryptomeria japonica, large and small plants, are scarcely 
