November 13, 1886. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
169 
THE CONIFERS AT WANSFEL, 
WINDERMERE. 
The mention of the height of some of the conifers at 
this establishment may be of interest to your numerous 
readers. The whole of the specimens are in excellent 
health, clothed down to the ground with green and 
vigorous branches and foliage ; while the form of the 
many specimens leaves nothing to be desired. The 
whole of the plants were planted by the present gar¬ 
dener, Mr. J. Bremner, about twenty-five years ago, 
under the direction and superintendence of the late 
Thomas Wrigley, Esq. 
In passing through the grounds, and noticing the 
beauty and dimensions of the individual trees, fresh 
interest was awakened with every subject that came 
under notice ; and when at the close we were taken out 
on to the lake, and permitted to gaze upon them from 
a distance, the effect of the 
the whole was of a very 
pleasing and gratifying cha¬ 
racter. Mr. Bremner re¬ 
ferred to many of his plants 
with very commendable 
pride and satisfaction. The 
first to arrest attention were 
the grand Wellingtonias, 
some nine trees, perfect in 
health and shape, branches 
resting on the ground ; some 
40 ft. and others 50 ft. in 
height. Cedrus Deodara, a 
beautiful specimen ; Picea 
amabilis, 40 ft. ; Picea lasio- 
carpa, of similar dimen¬ 
sions ; Picea nobilis glauca, 
one 40 ft. and another 60 ft.; 
Thujopsis borealis 40 ft. 
high and 30 ft. in circum¬ 
ference ; Picea Nordman- 
niana, nearly 50 ft. ; P. 
Pindrow, 30 ft., a grand 
specimen, 20 yds. in circum¬ 
ference ; P. cephalonica, 
40 ft. high, 20 yds. in 
circumference ; Cupressus 
macrocarpa, 40 ft. high, 
30 yds. in circumference ; 
Picea Nordmanniana, 50 ft.; 
Pinus cembra, 45 ft,; a very 
distinct Cupressus macro¬ 
carpa, 50 ft.; Thuja Lobbi, 
65 ft. high before growth 
commenced last spring ; and 
Picea grandis, 60 ft. high. 
Beside the above-mentioned, 
are many others rather 
less in size but perfect in 
form ; among them we 
noticed Thujopsis dolobrata, 
Picea pinsapo, Cedrus Lebani 
and atlantica, and numerous 
specimen Hollies. 
In the glass department 
were also many things of 
interest, among them being 
some capital batches of Disa 
grandifiora raised from seed ; several good seedling 
Lapagerias ; a fine house full of Odontoglossums, the 
very picture of health, whilst another house was entirely 
filled with seedling flowering Begonias. At the time of 
my visit (October 8th) these plants were full of flower, 
the colours ranging from a pure white to deep rosy pink, 
and all the intermediate shades again up to a bright 
vivid crimson. The size and form of the blooms were 
worthy to be compared with the finest I have ever seen 
on any exhibition stage. — W. S. 
-- 
BASING PARK, HANTS. 
This lovely place, the seat of W. Nicholson, Esq., 
is situated about eight miles from Alton, and is most 
pleasantly situated. The park is very extensive, 
beautifully undulated, and contains many fine speci¬ 
mens of various trees. The mansion, which is a very 
noble building, stands in a commanding position over¬ 
looking a fine part of the country, and near thereto is 
the flower garden, which has been gay with various 
styles of bedding, which is well done here. The 
gardens are very extensive, and all-round gardening is 
most practically carried out in an able manner by 
Mr. William Smythe, the gardener-in-chief. The 
demand for produce at various seasons of the year is 
very great, and none but a thoroughly practical man 
could cope with the requirements. 
Adjoining the mansion is a splendid conservatory, 
which at the present time is very gay ; the beds on 
either side of the walk are planted out with the 
leading varieties of Camellias, which are pictures of 
health and full of flower buds. Here and there, 
standing majestically, relieving the eye, are fine 
specimen tree Ferns, in splendid condition. The roof of 
the conservatory is adorned with a fine collection 
of Tacsonias, which wore conspicuously in flower ; 
amongst these are some very fine distinct hybrids 
raised by Mr. Smythe, which are lovely additions to 
these noble climbers, for as seen here they cannot 
The Chrysanthemum Avenue at Swanmoue Pahic. 
be surpassed for this kind of work. A grand lot of 
well-grown and splendidly flowered Chrysanthemums 
were beautifully arranged with other plants, such 
as Salvias, including fine grown plants of Bethelii, 
&e. ; Primulas, &c., are to be seen well done here 
also. Mr. Smythe grows a large number of Chrysan¬ 
themums, some 800 plants in 9-in. pots, about 150 
varieties, and as these are exceedingly well done, a good 
display can be kept up for a long time. 
Passing into the kitchen garden we come to a fine 
orchard house, 100 feet long, 18 ft. wide ; this is 
devoted to the culture of Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, 
Apricots, Pears, of all the leading sorts, and the trees 
this season have carried enormous crops of very fine 
fruit; a fine lot of Tomatos are grown here also, and 
produce an abundance of fine fruit. Pines are grown 
extensively, fine Queen’s, Smooth Cayenne and Hurst 
House Seedling, at the present time producing good 
fruits ; on the back shelves of these houses Calanthes 
find a place, Yestita lutea, Yestita rosea and Yeitchii 
are grown well, and in great quantities ; the strong 
bulbs and fine spikes which they bear show that the 
treatment they receive is just what they delight in. 
Amaryllis are well done here, and Mr. Smythe has 
been very successful in raising some fine hybrids of the 
perpetual-flowering kind ; he has also many seedling 
Eucharis from various crosses. We trust he may be 
rewarded by something new and good. The stoves 
contain a nice collection of fine foliage and flowering 
plants, not over large, but of good useful size—just what 
is required for decorative purposes. The roofs are adorned 
with Allamandas and Stephanotis flowering freely ; 
Ixoras, Gardenias, &c., are well done. Aphelandra 
Iioezlii and Clerodendron fallax were splendidly in 
flower; these and Epiphyllum, Justicea, Tlirysacantlius, 
Plumbago, &c., are good useful plants for the adorn¬ 
ment of the stove at this time of the year. 
The second Pine house contains a fine healthy lot of 
clean and sturdy plants, and look most promising ; 
in this house, on the back shelves, I noticed good 
healthy plants of various 
Cattleyas, Coelogynes, Den- 
drobiums, &c. Another house 
is devoted to florists’ flowers, 
such as Cinerarias, Pelargo¬ 
niums and Cyclamen, which, 
from their promising appear¬ 
ance, will produce a fine 
display. The long range is 
in divisions : one is an early 
Peach house, which is at 
present full of young Camel¬ 
lias. in 9-incli pots, full of 
buds ; these, when required 
are for the decoration of the 
conservatory. The other 
divisions are devoted to Vines 
(viz., six of them), and a 
splendid lot of useful fruit 
they contain ; finely finished 
good bunches and grand 
berries. The most useful 
and popular sorts are grown : 
Lady Downes, Alicante, 
Black Hambro’ and Muscats, 
Foster’s Seedling, &c., are 
still in perfection. The 
earlier houses have likewise 
contained fine crops. 
Another house is devoted 
entirely to Black Hambro’s ; 
one to Alnwick Seedling, 
Gros Colmar and Lady 
Downes, fine in bunch and 
berries. These Grapes are 
everything that can be 
desired for a gentleman’s 
table. 
In one of the early 
Vineries I noticed many 
splendid specimens of the 
old, never-beaten-yet, Den- 
drobium nobile, which have 
been here ripening their 
growths, and are fully 2 ft. 
long, showing great quan 
tities of flower; these can 
be got in for Christmas, 
which is no doubt the in¬ 
tention of Mr. Smythe. He informed me he takes in 
so many at various intervals, and by so doing has 
flowers of this old favourite right into the summer time. 
The Cucumber and forcing houses were active, the 
former promising to carry a good crop through the 
wdnter ; the latter were full of Azaleas, and other 
flowering plants suitable for forcing—such things as 
Eoses, Azalea indica, A. mollis, Lilacs, Staphyleas, 
Viburnums, Khododendrons and so on are extensively 
used for that purpose. A fine lot of tree Carnations are 
also showing quantities of buds, and will prove very 
useful for cut flowers ; amongst these are some very fine 
seedlings raised by Mr. Smythe. 
Violets are extensively grown ; the frames were full 
of good strong plants full of flower, and from their ap¬ 
pearance will continue so for some time to come. The 
kitchen garden is very extensive, and fine crops of 
vegetables are annually produced. The out-door 
department is well-kept ; we noticed fine clumps of 
Eliododendrons and other flowering shrubs which flower 
luxuriantly during the season. There is also an 
interesting collection of conifers, and many fine 
