458 THE COTTAGE GARDENER. September 12. 
laria; backed with the purple Dahlia, Zelinda. I 
thought this last had the best effect of them all, chiefly, 
poi'haps, because the plants were all in bloom together 
Ft the time 1 saw them. 
The above is a very slight sketch of the flower-gar¬ 
dening at Enville. The extent is really amazing. It is 
only in such oxtensive grounds that the bedding-out 
system is really handsome and effective. The only regret 
is, that the season for blooming is so short, lasting only 
in perfection from July to the end of September. 
The beds of (leant ties Batailles Rose were just put¬ 
ting out a second crop of their splendid high-coloured 
blossoms. To take away the naked effect of the stems, 
Mr. Aiton had planted the beds with the different varie¬ 
ties of German Stocks. These were in good bloom, and 
the practice is, 1 think, good, and worthy of imitation 
wherever standard Roses are grown in beds. 
An old tree stump was completely hidden by summer 
creepers, such as Tropccolurn canariense, Lophospermums, 
Cobeas, &c.; thus an unsightly object was rendered very 
beautiful. In different parts of the pleasure-ground, I 
saw three .Larch poles, with short stumps left on them, 
placed about two feet apart at the bottom, and meeting 
at the top. Up these were trained the Tropceolum cana¬ 
riense, which had reached the top, aud hung down in 
graceful festoons. At what a slight expense beautiful 
objects may, by the hand of taste, be created. In one 
place, I saw a large tent formed with bended rods, clothed 
with the Fuchsia Carolina, with its charming scarlet 
and purple blossoms hanging down in great profusion. 
The bods of shrubs referred to above have been 
planted about seven years, aud have grown most sur¬ 
prisingly for the time. 1 was informed that the ground 
had been trenched two or three feet deep for them, well 
drained, and that was tho cause of their great luxuri¬ 
ance. They are valuable now for transplanting, where 
immediate effect is wanted. Amongst them had been 
planted many of the upright growing Conifer®, such as 
Cupressus Lamhertiana,Juniperies excclsa,Thuja Siherica, 
and others. The evergreen shrubs sheltered them, and 
they are now fine specimens. Other Conifer®, of dif¬ 
ferent habits, had towered above the shrubs, especially 
a line Pinas macrocarpa, which, in the seven years, has 
attained twelve feet in height, and several Deodars, also, 
had made equally rapid progress. This great success in 
the culture of shrubs aud trees shows, practically and 
demonstratively, the wisdom of duly preparing ground 
for such plants. It is even economical in the end, not 
only because the trees thrive well, but also because such 
plantations soon require thinning, and furnish excellent 
trees and shrubs for future plantings on other parts of 
the ground. 
The Pleasure-grounds here are situated on a rapidly 
rising ground, and then the great advantage of planting 
such rather tender trees as Taxodium sempervirens, 
Cedrus deodara, Cupressus Goveniana, Gryptomeria japo- 
nioa, on elevatod positions. In the lower parts, these 
have suffered from the late severe weather, but in the 
higher ground they have not a twig injured. 
A landscape gardener might take many a useful 
lesson from the manner in which tho grounds are laid 
out here. One front of the mansion is occupied by the 
flower-garden described above; another, by the shrub¬ 
beries aud ornamental water; whilst the entrance front 
is simply devoted to the carriage drive, with an ex¬ 
tensive lawn, and distant views of the hanging woods 
and groups of noble trees, judiciously disposed so as to 
give light and shade. The poet Shonstone, some 
hundred years ago, displayed his taste in planting 
and arranging these trees, and they show what genius 
can accomplish when directed to embellishing natural 
scenery. 
This fine place has been thrown open to tho public, 
free of charge, every Tuesday aud Thursday, and the 
liberal and noble-minded proprietor must be highly 
gratified to see the numerous groups of happy faces i 
preambulating the beautiful grounds, and truly enjoying 
the sight of lovely flowers, beautiful shrubs, and noble 
trees, so beautifully displayed to their delighted eyes. 
I was there on one of those days, and really the sight 
was astonishing. Tho towns of Birmingham, Dudley, 
Stourbridge, Wolverhampton, sent forth their hundreds 
of the working classes to have a holiday indeed. What 
a different scene for them to their every-day occupation. 
Tho poorest mechanic, the collier, whoso days are spent 
in tho dark bowels of the earth, the smelter of iron ore, , 
and all the other health-destroying occupations in the I 
black country, hero meet together to enjoy the pure air, 
the green lawn, the lovely flowers, and the quiet shade of 
the forest aud the mountain. Surely, such a sight is most 
highly interesting to a philanthropic mind. Such scenes 
must have a tendency to make such people happier, and 
improve their taste and morals. With the very fewest 
exceptions, the people conducted themselves with the 
greatest propriety. I was glad to see some of the higher 
classes amongst them, mixing with them, and, by their 
presence and conduct, no doubt restraining any improper 
behaviour which the less-informed might have displayed. 
The jets of water which Lord Stamford has, at a great 
expense, formed, were, unfortunately, not playing, some 
little improvement in the machinery being going on. I 
was sorry it so happened, as I was told the effect is 
very fine. 
I took a long ramble in the extensive woods and 
forests near to this place, belonging to the noble pro¬ 
prietor. I found in one large tract an open space left, 
and formed into a winding race-course, independent of 
which use it is a most delightful promenade or drive. 
In walking round, I noted several varieties of the com¬ 
mon Scotch Fir, very distinctly marked ; one had short 
leaves and a dwarf habit, very much like Pinus pumila, 
with a more upright habit; another had long leaves, of 
a rich silvery hue, approaching Pinus excclsa ; whilst a 
third had dark green foliage, and a strong habit, like 
Pinus Austriaca. These were self-sown seedlings grow¬ 
ing in the open glades between the old woods. The 
space of the country occupied by the race course aud 
Fir plantations was formerly an open moor, covered 
with the wild Heath. The soil is thin and poor, yet the 
trees have grown well, and the country is now clothed 
with them. Is not this an encouragement to gentlemen 
possessing large tracts of such apparently useless land, 
to plant it, aud thus embellish and render more valuable 
such wastes—making the wilderness to shine? 
In another part of the estate, I was delighted to find 
a goodly forest of noble Oaks, from sixty to eighty feet 
high, the ground on which they were growing was of a 
stronger texture and deeper tilth; hence, the Oak had 
prospered. 
The new Kitchen-gardens are approaching now to a 
finish. To take away tho raw appearance of tho brick- 
walls they have been washed over with Roman cement, 
which gives them a soft, subdued effect. The fruit-trees 
are making good growth, considering that they were 
planted rather late in the spring. 
In a secluded part of the grounds, I came, unexpect¬ 
edly, upon a small flower-garden, a unique greenhouse, 
a pheasantry, a rustic pigeon-house, with the under part 
devoted to a collection of the varietios of the rabbit. 
This part is especially for the private amusement of 
the Countess of Stamford, and is managed chiefly by 
herself 
To sum up the whole, Enville Park is certainly a most 
delightful place, well worthy of a visit. I spent two 
happy days there, aud cannot let this opportunity pass, of 
paying deserved praise to Mr. Aiton, the skilful gardener, 
as well as to the liberal spirit of the owner. Together, 
they have made Enville so attractive, and, when all the 
