120 
THE FLORIST. 
where they may be suspended from the roof. The frost does not injure 
them, and they remain in a good state of preservation from eight to 
ten weeks. 
March 25. H. M., Clevelands. 
CARHEAD, YORKSHIRE. 
Amongst the nooks and corners of old England, are to be found 
situated many of the seats and country residences of our nobility and 
gentry, the sayings and doings of which places influence in a great 
degree, the inhabitants of all classes in their surrounding localities. 
Man in his rude state is satisfied with those things which minister to 
his necessities; but let him see a more civilised state, and he is 
immediately aspiring and imitative. Happy is the district where the 
proprietors of these country domains carry on science of horticulture to 
any degree of perfection, as we can safely say that horticulture has 
more moralising effects than any other pursuit we know of. Visiting 
the seat of one of the most ardent lovers of horticulture this country 
can boast of—W. B. Wainman, Esq., Carhead, near Skipton, York¬ 
shire—has led me to pen these lines, in the hope that some, amongst 
your numerous readers, may be induced to follow in the steps here 
pointed out; and to our practical brethren, let us trust that some hints, 
thus collected into our note-book, may prove of interest if not of service. 
Carhead is most romantic and beautifully situated in a valley between 
some very lofty ranges of rugged hills, consequently the cold piercing 
winds are here felt in their greatest severity ; this, together with a 
very cold retentive soil, makes this place one of the most disadvantageous 
for gardening purposes imaginable ; nevertheless, a visit here is well 
worth recording, if only to show—to use an old aphorism—“ Where 
there is a will there always is a way.” Upon entering the grounds, 
the first object that strikes the visitor is a most magnificent plant of 
Arbutus procera, 14 feet high and 12 feet through, which has stood 
many a winter’s blast, unscathed; it is bidding fair to become the finest 
plant of its kind in the kingdom ; it is now decidedly the finest plant 
we have yet met with north of the dhames. Not far distant is also a 
fine and free-growing plant of Cupressus funebris, which we were 
rather surprised to find stood the winter here well; it was turned out 
in the spring of 1853. Here in the far north, upon a cold stiff soil, this 
plant is doing well, while upon the lighter soils, further south, it is 
considered much too tender a plant to venture out. We have again 
met with this Cypress doing admirably upon a stiff clayey soil, fifty miles 
north of this place. Rhododendrons and the Ghent Azaleas are most 
magnificent here in spring. There being a most superb collection of 
all the leading kinds, the “ bog ” for them is introduced from the 
surrounding moors, in which they thrive and flower most luxuriously. 
Knowing the taste of the worthy proprietor of this place, we were 
somewhat prepared for the superb collection of plants we here met 
with; amongst them are to be found many admirable specimens. 
Amongst those that struck us at the time of our visit, as being the 
