THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, Apeil 6, 1858. 
things in places least expected. A bleak, cold situa¬ 
tion is far from being without its benefits, although 
they be few compared with one of an opposite clia- 
racter. But the one I mean more particularly to call 
attention to, is that near the sea coast and conse¬ 
quently within reach of salt water spray in times of 
high winds : there are many such situations, and it is 
only people living at one of these who can fully compre¬ 
hend its difficulties; but in the present instance it is 
intended to confine our observations to tnat of one 
article only—the Beach—of which much has been 
written and said in other quarters. 
Foreigners invariably say, that English people have 
but an imperfect knowledge of the value of common 
salt; and I believe that, in the cultivation of the soil, 
it is not half so much used as it ought to be ; not that 
it ought to be used everywhere and for everything, but 
a judicious application of it will doubtless improve 
many crops, if given at the right time. And, perhaps, 
if we examined carefully the borders of the best Beach 
walls, we should find that they contained more salt in 
their composition than those in which the Beach trees 
do badly. This ought, therefore, to teach us to use 
salt, in moderation, when Beaches are grown in soils 
lacking that ingredient. I am induced to offer the 
above remarks, by having noticed good Beach trees 
in situations near both the east and west coasts, even 
beyond the range where Oaks, and other indigenous 
trees, seem to thrive, and in such places I have seen 
Beach trees do tolerably well. Certainly, there is a 
distance within which they will not prosper; but, I 
believe, the most healthy trees in the kingdom will be 
found within the range of three and twenty miles from 
the coast, all around. The influence of salt spray is 
felt, as is well known, full six miles, or more ; and 
many delicate plants will not endure it at even a greater 
distance than this ; but some excellent Beach trees will 
be found within this belt, and probably the soils the 
other good trees are growing in, may contain the re¬ 
quisite quantity of this all-important seasoning in their 
composition. 
I am partly induced to offer the above remarks, from 
having been favoured (last summer) with a sight of 
the magnificent gardens of the Earl of Derby, at 
Knowsley, near Liverpool; where I certainly saw one 
of the best furnished Beach walls I ever saw in my 
life. The wall (as near as I can recollect) seemed to 
be about fourteen feet high, and of great length, but 
from the bottom to the top it was closely covered with 
as line healthy wood, in suitable proportions, as could 
be wished for by the most fastidious observer. Many 
other things were also good, as the Grapes, Bines, and 
general kitchen garden crops. Now this place, I was 
told, was only six miles in a straight line from the 
coast; and the influence of the terrible south-wester 
was visible on all single trees, and to windward of 
those in plantations many Coniferse would not grow 
at all. The worthy house-steward had made many 
ineffectual attempts to ornament the front of his cot¬ 
tage, (a pretty one in the Bark) with a couple of Irish 
Yews, but in vain; for, after lingering on for a few 
months, they always showed brown on the windward 
side, which speedily blackened, until the plant (if 
allowed to stand so long) ceased to live. Many other 
things suffered in like manner. The squall across 
the Irish Channel carried with it much spray, even to 
that distance ; the consequence was, that many shrubs 
had far from a healthy appearance; Rhododendrons 
seemed to be at home in the soil; and, as stated above, 
the Beach trees did remarkably well. 
Doubtless some inquiry will be made regarding the 
soil, which was of a black sandy loam, not stiff, and 
not very light; and, by the appearance of everything I 
| saw, it would appear to be pretty deep. The Vines 
looked remarkably well, and bore excellent crops of 
well-coloured fruit, which would have run some of the 
crack Show men a hard race, at some of the Metro¬ 
politan meetings, if they had been exhibited there; 
but Mr. Jennings, the able and worthy gardener at 
Knowsley, does not send to these Shows, though I 
believe, that at one held at the Lancashire capital, 
where competition and prizes equal that of London, 
Mr. Jennings carried off the principal laurels. 
Knowsley, the princely seat of the Earl of Derby, is 
one of those places which a stranger cannot visit with¬ 
out being struck with the affluence, good management, 
and dignity, with which everything is carried out; 
every building, even those for the humblest purpose, 
is executed in the best manner that skilful workmen 
can do it. The panelling and carving of the stables 
would grace a drawing-room, and the offices are 
perfect models of their kind; and if I were allowed to 
invade privacy so far as to make remarks, I must say, 
from what I witnessed at Knowsley, that hospitality 
was not the least of the many good points for which 
this place is famed; and to Air. Jennings, whose 
courtesy in shewing myself and friends the many 
things under his charge (all of which were in excellent 
order), our thanks are certainly due; and we left 
Knowsley regretting, that the monster steam, on its 
iron horse, did not give us more time to spend, on a 
spot which seems to have been -well (and I believe hos¬ 
pitably) kept up for many generations. Hoping it 
may continue to hold the worthy place, it now does, 
for centuries to come, seems the desire of all, and 
none more so than that of the writer. 
John Robson. 
KIMBTON HOO. # 
This massive residence of Lord Dacre, is situated 
on elevated ground, about seven miles from Hitchen, 
and four miles from Welwyn. The village of Kimpton 
is about a mile to the south, and the snug village of 
AVhitwell about the same distance to the north. A 
beautiful spring rises at a short distance from AVhit¬ 
well, and llows eastward through the village, as a 
cheering rivulet—unless where it is widened into large 
beds, for AVatercresses, which find their way in Igrge 
quantities to the breakfast tables of the Londoners. 
On some of these beds the pebbly gravel is so clean, 
the water that passes over them so shallow and pure, 
and so much attention paid to the culture of the 
Cresses, that could they be easily distinguished at 
market, the admirers of such a medicinal vegetable 
would cheerfully pay more for them, than for those 
brought from a deep sluggish stream, or from a wide 
ditch-like reservoir, with little in appearance to mark 
it from the stagnant morass. Rather than knowingly 
feast upon the latter, I would be content to put up 
with the extra bitterness in those Cresses, that may be 
procured from any rather shaded part in a kitchen 
garden, that could be moderately supplied with water. 
After passing the north side of the kitchen garden, 
ifiQuii'ies liave been made as to the meaning of the word 
Hoo. ’ It may be popularly described as meaning an eminence, as 
-m l iy r T n °°’ Stagen lioo > Luton Hoo, and Kimpton Hoo, called often 
I he Hoo, pat excellence , are all so placed. The name Hoo, however, 
is couectly taken from an ancient family of that name, who are said to 
nave held large possessions in the counties of Hertfordshire and Bed¬ 
fordshire, as far back as the days of King Canute ; and all, or most of 
whom, leit their names on commanding sites of ground, showing their 
good taste m choosing such for their residences. William Hoo, Esq., 
held court at Kimpton in the days of Elizabeth. A Sir Robert Hoo 
was buried at Luyton (Luton) in 1310; Thomas Hoo, Esq., was buried 
at Kimpton m 1480, and his son was interred beside himin 1510. Through 
marriage, Kimpton IIoo came into the possession of Sir Gilbert Iloo 
Keate, about -00 years ago. It would be out of place in this work to 
tiace the matter further, and it is only interesting as showing on how 
many places an old family can leave traces of their existence, and 
wealth, and power. 
