382 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, March 22, 1859. 
south. A lofty conservatory terminates the suite of rooms on 
the east side; the carriage-front being on the south side ; a per¬ 
fectly straight road leads from the front door to the turnpike 
entrance, lined on each side with Cedrus deodara, which, at some 
time, (apparently not far distant by the healthy condition of the 
trees), will make an interesting avenue. The greatest drawback 
in this, is its shortness—but this could not be avoided; and, as 
a remedy—a very effectual one, too—the line is made to proceed 
in the same direction across the turnpike road as far as the eye 
can reach ; perhaps two miles. The ground during that distance 
has undergone a considerable amount of cutting and levelling to 
make it agreeable to the eye, and, in most cases, it is thickly 
wooded; but, at suitable intervening places along the sides of 
this straight drive or opening, choice Pinus, Rhododendrons, &c., 
are planted with good effect. On an elevated position in this 
wood, and communicating with this straight liue by another one 
in a lateral direction, an elegant summer-house or lodge is 
erected, which ia seen from the mansion and surrounding country. 
This summer-house was placed on a hill of dry sharp sand, where 
only a few stunted trees, furze, and heath, struggled on for a 
wretched existence. Mr. Frost, the intelligent gardener here, 
had it broken up, and thrown into suitable forms, and planted 
with Rhododendrons and other similar plants, which are doing 
well, and flower abundantly and strongly: thus proving that 
moisture is not the only thing necessary to make these beautiful 
plants thrive, as the dry sand in this place must contain within 
itself some of those elements which are also (most likely), met 
with in damp clays. Be this as it may ; this mound of American 
plants, with its accompaniments of rustic bridges and other 
ornaments, all on a large scale, forms a very important feature 
at this place; and, being at a considerable distance from the 
mansion and other dressed grotuid, is come upon quite un¬ 
expectedly. 
To a stranger entering the grounds at the east side of the 
mansion, the part immediately surrounding the house seems small. 
A terrace-wall bounds it on the east and north sides ; the ground, 
receding on the latter side, gives scope for terraces. A large 
fountain occupies a considerable part of the lower flat, or base¬ 
ment, surrounded by some scroll-shaped beds, edged with Box 
on gravel. Parallel with the north side of the mansion, and 
between it and the terrace flower garden alluded to, a broad walk 
runs in a straight line westward, terminating in a summer-house 
of suitable construction. By the sides of this broad walk runs a 
string of beds, alternately long and round-shaped ones—some¬ 
what like those at the Crystal Palace Gardens, but wider apart. 
The grounds also widen considerably, on both sides, in an undu¬ 
lating manner. At some distance along this broad walk, it is 
intersected by one from the kitchen garden, which is close at 
hand; and is entered on the south side by a wide opening of 
ornamental iron-work, showing the fine range of hothouses at 
the north side to great advantage. 
The kitchen garden inside the walls is small, but is amply 
made up by the fruit plantation and vegetable ground elsewhere ; 
the north wall being, in fact, almost covered with glass houses, 
which, being glazed on bars of galvanised iron, have a light 
appearance. These are all mostly grape-houses, and have borne 
some excellent crops of fruit that have seldom been surpassed 
at the metropolitan and other Shows where they have been 
exhibited ; and, probably, would have been still finer, if they 
had been thinned to the extent some exhibitors are in the habit 
of doing. In the background, behind this range of houses, are 
pits for Pines, Melons, and general forcing, and houses for plant¬ 
growing ; making, iu this department only, a larger display of 
glass than there is in many extensive places. A short distance 
from this is the old garden that was attached to the former 
mansion. This has been turned to account; and the south and 
west walls have been cased with glass, and all heated with hot 
water in such a manner as to entitle them to the character of 
glass-houses instead of glass-cases. Excellent Peaches are grown 
against the walls here j and now and then Vines are trained up 
the fronts of the glass supports at wide intervals apart, so as not 
to interfere with the Peach trees. The construction of this range 
is an upright light of nine feet or more, and a sort of a span-roof 
from that to the top of the wall; the width of the house being 
about six feet, perhaps. The front lights are all made moveable, 
with crank-rods, and levers of the most suitable construction. 
One-half of the top-ridge lights are also made moveable in the 
same way ; the whole being as complete as anything of the kind 
could well bo. A pathway leading up the oentre gives access to 
the whole at all times: and the healthy condition of the trees, 
and the excellent crops they bear, give proof that they duly 
appreciate the treatment they receive. 
In a country like England, where freedom of opinion some¬ 
times outruns the bounds of courtesy, the special right which 
every one thinks he has to criticise public works and under¬ 
takings, is often made use of in private operations as well. In 
the exercise of this usurpation (for no one can call it a right), 
there are many who think the flower-garden and pleasure-ground 
department surrounding Preston Hall much too limited for the 
other features about it. With plant and forcing-houses of an 
extent equalled by few, it is often a wonder why the extent of 
dressed ground is not larger, as the surrounding park—which is 
of considerable extent and well diversified—gave abundant scope 
for enlarging the grounds. One thing, however, it is proper to 
say, that what there is, is remarkably well kept, and reflects the 
greatest credit on Mr. Frost as well as his spirited employer. 
The fruits and plants produced in the houses are invariably 
good, as well as the keeping of the place generally—every corner 
being orderly. And though, in such an extensive assortment of 
glass-houses, and where additions or alterations are continually 
required, some little upset must, of necessity, be made; yet 
this is here done with that despatch, order, and method, which 
ensure a successful issue. Altogether, the gardening at Preston 
Hall is of a high order, as well as some other things; not the 
least important to the general observer, being an extensive arrange¬ 
ment of farm buildings, where the chaff-cutting and other works 
are driven by steam power. 
It is, perhaps, proper to say that the mansion stands on a 
rising ground, the northern slope running down to the river; 
midway of which there are some good views from the house. 
The park is well, but not too thickly, wooded; the chalk lulls, 
forming what is called the back-bone of Kent, terminating the 
view to the north. At the base of these hills, and not a great dis¬ 
tance from the mansion, is the famed druidical monument, Kits- 
Coty house; the origin or object of which has puzzled the learned 
world for many generations. The neighbouring district is also 
rich in agricultural and mineral wealth. Potteries, sand for glass 
works, chalk, and stone lime, as well as brick and other works, 
give a degree of stir and bustle to a neighbourhood, which, in 
less enterprising hands, might have been tame and quiet.—R. 
THE SCIENCE OF GAEDENING. 
(Continued from page 366.) 
As it is certain that some plants grow more luxuriantly if fol¬ 
lowing one kind of predecessors, than they do if in succession to 
some others; so is it probable that there are plants which flourish 
more in companionship with some tribes than they do if asso¬ 
ciated with other tribes. 
This is no result of modern observation, but is asserted by 
some of the earliest writers on the cultivation of plants. 
Thus, in 1570, Conrad Heresbach wrotes as follow's:—“ Be¬ 
cause there is a natural friendship and love between certain trees, 
you must set them the nearer together, as the Vine and the Olive, 
the Pomegranate and the Myrtle. Others,” he adds, “ have a 
natural hatred, as the Vine with the Filbert and the Bay and 
Cato, about fifteen hundred years before Heresbach, said that the 
Vine is at enmity with the Cabbage. 
That some plants are benefited by being grown in the vicinity 
of others seems established by observation, and might be ration¬ 
ally expected. Thus the blue-bottle (Centaurea cyanus) is rarely 
found flourishing, except in company with a corn crop. The 
benefit arising from such associations is, probably, the conse¬ 
quence of the cereal grasses emitting the usual gases in proportions, 
and at times grateful to the Centaurea ; or from their excreting 
something in the soil that is acceptable to its roots. Then, again, 
the fragrance of the Rose is said to be increased by having the 
Onion, or some other allium, grown in its vicinity. Phillips, in 
his poem entitled “ Cider,” alludes to this result:— 
- “ The Prestan Eose unfolds 
Her bud more lovely near the foetid Leek, 
(Crest of stout Britons,) and enhances thence 
The price of her celestial scent.” 
This increase of fragrauce, if it is a truth, probably arises 
from the same cause that ammonia increases the pungent jierfume 
of snulf. Flavours and scents, w T e all know, are often made more 
intense by combination. Musk increases the aroma of all other 
perfumes. 
This probable benefit, derived from association, is explicable 
