242 
THE FIOHIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
finer constitution, and should be grown, if possible, in a warm and sheltered 
part of the garden. They can be planted from January to April, and the soil 
should be of good loam, with a subsoil of well-rotted manure placed from 
8 to 12 inches below the surface of the bed. As they are fond of moisture, 
care must be taken that they do not suffer for want of its application. 
Thus I have compiled for “ Stella” the short list she asks for. The power 
to achieve success with them rests mainly with herself. I think that by-and-by 
in the balmy spring months, after the parenthesis of winter has been struck 
out by the revolution of time, many “bright flow’rets ” will look up into 
the face of the sun, reared by the careful tending of their devotee, and crown 
her humble efforts by quickening, her love for these “ stars of earth, these 
golden flowers; ” and beget in her humble gratitude to Him whose all- 
embracing, all-pervading love they reveal as they bloom and glow on every 
hand, telling us in their own simple language, “ Spring is born.” 
Baron Van Tittle. 
KIRBY HALL. 
The Seat of H. S. Thompson, Esq. 
This place lies west of York, about twelve miles distant, and is easily 
reached either from York, Knaresborough, or Harrogate, by railway to 
Cattail station, which is a little better than two miles from the Hall; but the 
drive or walk from the station to the Hall will not be wearisome or monotonous 
to the visitor, as the country around is very beautiful. Shortly after leaving 
the station, when the visitor reaches the top of the rising ground at Providence 
Green, by looking to the right he will see the pretty village of Green-Hammer- 
ton ; and beyond it, over the river, and rising high above the trees, the hand¬ 
some spire of Newton church, and beyond that the woods of Beningborough 
Hall, where two of our best Grapes were raised—namely, Lady Downe’s 
and Foster’s White Seedling. Beyond these woods are those of Red House, and 
Marston Moor, and beyond and high above every surrounding object York 
Minster ; looking to the left w r e see the park and woods of Stourton, with the 
towers of the mansion rising high above the noble Oaks which wood the park; 
beyond these is seen the beautiful new church of Knaresborough with its chaste 
spire, and beyond that High Harrogate, Arlow Hill Tower, and the west 
moors; looking northward in the hollow is Kirby Hall, with a fine extent 
of country beyond, which is bounded by the Hambleton hills. 
The principal entrance to the park is close to the village of Great 0use- 
bourne ; but the visitor, if on foot, can reach the gardens by a shorter route, 
if, after leaving the village of Little Ousebourne, instead of turning to the 
left he goes straight on until he comes to Mr. Thompson’s home farm (this is 
well worth inspection), a description of which was given in the Agricul¬ 
tural Gazette last year; here there is a pathway that leads direct to the 
gardens. By this route we ourselves entered the gardens on a recent visit we 
paid them. We fouud Mr. Purchase in the new range of houses, erected here 
about eighteen months since, on Sir Joseph Paxton’s principle. The range is 
400 feet long, divided into eight compartments. Entering the range at the 
east end, the first house is an orchard-house; all the trees are planted out; 
they are Cherries, Apricots, and Plums, and were in the highest possible state 
of health and cleanliness, and showed every promise of an abundant crop the 
next season. We were too late to see the fruit this season, but Mr. Purchase 
informed us the trees bore good crops of fine fruit. The next house is also an 
orchard-house, and the trees are all planted out, and, if possible, they looked 
