May 7, 1887. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
569 
soil must be suitable and the tall surrounding trees 
shelter it from the fog and smoke-laden winds. A 
broadly spreading, much-branched specimen of the 
Lucombe Oak stands isolated on the grass ; it seems a 
distinct form with rather small, glossy, shining leaves 
that have not yet lost their lustre. We must not 
neglect to notice a patriarchal tree of the typical 
Platanus orientalis, one of, if not the largest tree of its 
kind in the neighbourhood of London ; the diameter of 
the bole, and the height and spread of the tree is 
considerable, while it may interest some to note that 
the Russian Princess, Maria Nicolaiewna once held a 
picnic under its branches. Scarcely less noteworthy 
were some grand old trunks of the Wych Elm, the 
uppermost branches of which have assumed a curious 
pendulous habit. 
A rather novel feature presents itself in a circular 
pond sunk in a woody part of the grounds. An obelisk 
stands in the centre, flags margin the water, and a 
temple is visible partly en¬ 
shrouded amongst trees, on 
the opposite bank. On a 
terrace surrounding the water 
numerous Laurels (Lauras 
nobilis) are planted. They 
were killed to the ground 
in 1860 by frost, but have 
again reached a height of 
about 12 ft., are in healthy 
vigorous condition, and 
showing for bloom freely. 
Near this is a group of Pines, 
including Pinus pinea, P. 
strobus, P. ponderosa, and 
P. laricio. The latter is 
conspicuous for numerous 
strong limbs or branches 
which push out horizontally 
from the main stem and 
then ascend candelabra 
lashion. Upon this tree is to 
be seen a huge specimen of 
iasciated branches, forming 
a green mass of great density 
and over 6 ft. in depth. 
It is suspended from a com¬ 
paratively slender branch 
that owes its strength prob¬ 
ably to its pendent position. 
The deciduous trees are now 
fast breaking into leaf, and 
who can fail to admire the 
green, the amber and gold 
of the young leaves of Acer 
pseudo platanus, as seen 
against some dark back¬ 
ground, such as that of the 
sombre and evergreen 
conifers. The red flowers 
and young fruit of Acer 
rubrum are no less con¬ 
spicuous and beautiful. 
Turning to the glass 
structures, the visitor cannot 
fail to be struck with the 
massive bank of Camellias 
that line the greater part of the length of the large 
conservatory. These are planted out in a wide border 
and also cover the back wall with a living carpet of 
green, studded with innumerable flowers of the ever- 
useful and acceptable C. japonica. There are whites, 
reds and striped flowers in all shades of intensity, but 
many of them were past their best at the time of our 
visit, and having commenced to make fresh growth 
were being syringed to encourage it. Several fine 
specimens of C. reticulata are grown against the wall 
or in the border ; but a magnificent and aged speci¬ 
men in the central and domed part of the conservatory 
particularly took our attention by the thickness of its 
stem. Magnolia conspicua and M. c. Soulangeana 
(the latter with rosy purple flowers) were trained 
against pillars, and being allowed to branch overhead, 
looked grand. Other pillars were occupied by aged 
specimens of Fuchsia, whose grey or brown decorticated 
stems were notable also for their thickness ; their 
branches were trained down towards the front of the 
house from the supporting rafters, and although not yet 
in bloom, their appearance then may be anticipated. 
The house itself is a rectangular and solid-looking 
mass of building, and was originally very small, having 
been commenced by the Earl of Burlington as a tea 
house with a small garden attached. At present it 
belongs to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, and is 
tenanted by the Marquis of Bute, and had as a former 
tenant the Prince of Wales. Those would, probably, 
be considered by some as palmier days, as well as when, 
in the heyday of the Royal Horticultural Society’s 
Gardens at Chiswick, visitors had access to both places 
on special and festive occasions. Those memories, 
however, in no way detract from the quiet serenity 
and seclusion to be enjoyed inside its walls, amongst 
the trees and shrubs of every hue, now bursting into 
leaf several weeks behind their usual time. 
In front of the house is a broad walk leading straight 
to what is known as the poets’ corner, and on each 
side of this the smooth, verdant, velvety lawn is dotted 
with the once fashionable statuary and various trees 
planted by and in com¬ 
memoration of some great 
personage. We noted a 
healthy specimen -of Cedrus 
Deodara, planted by Gari¬ 
baldi in 1864, and now 
known as Garibaldi’s Cedar. 
The poets’ corner is sur¬ 
rounded and overhung by 
large evergreen trees of 
Quercus Ilex or Holly Oak, 
which, having retained their 
leaves in good condition, 
form suitable surroundings 
to the statues of the poets 
which are arranged in a 
semi-circle. Amongst others 
we noted P. Virgilius Marco, 
Nero, Cicero and Brutus. 
The statues appear to consist 
of Portland oolite, and were 
more common in the neigh¬ 
bourhood of London than 
they are now. An old gate¬ 
way apparently of the same 
or a similar material stands 
near one end of the house, 
and presents an aged and 
weather-beaten appearance ; 
it bears the inscription, 
“Built by Inigo Jones, at 
Chelsea, 1621,” and having 
been neglected W'as con¬ 
veyed hither many years 
ago. 
In the rear of the house 
are some giant Cedars of 
Lebanon, with their very 
characteristic and familiar, 
immense, horizontal limbs, 
creating surprise that they 
could have resisted the 
enormous weight of snow 
that must have accumulated 
upon them during the snow 
storms of last winter. One 
tree presented a singular 
aspect from the fact of its being propped up with wooden 
beams of great length. This has been so for many 
years however, and it may not be out of place, in 
passing, to state that the destruction of trees and their 
branches by the memorable snowstorm the day after 
Christmas, last year, was very serious. 
Westward from the house, what is known as the 
Broad View presents a very charming bit of scenery, 
and judging from its present appearance one may 
anticipate a marked improvement when the trees are 
in leaf. The turf slopes gradually down to a sheet of 
water, on either side of which groups of trees give 
character and wildness to the view. Towering above 
these the strikingly pillar-like Lombardy Poplar 
(Populus nigra pyramidalis) shows individual charac¬ 
teristics than can never be mistaken in a landscape, 
but which are too infrequently employed. In the fore¬ 
ground a tall Birch with white trank and long pendent 
fringes of slender branches, displays its beautiful form 
against those trees of more sombre hue ; while in the 
distance the red bark of a tall straight-stemmed Scotch 
Fir, affords another striking feature in w’oodland 
ViBUJlXUJi TIXUS HI ETA. 
garden. From here may be seen fields and market-gar¬ 
dens, furnished here and there with Lombardy Poplars. 
Presently we descend at the obelisk gate, where several 
green walks converge at an obelisk, with figures carved 
upon it in relief, and bearing to the left we reach a part 
recently added to the garden. A wall has been built 
around this and the ground planted with masses and 
isolated clumps of trees ; a very laudable endeavour to 
prevent the builder from encroaching in that direction. 
A long walk is being carried through this part, a rustic 
bridge has been thrown over a river-like sheet of water, 
and altogether Mr. May, who is superintending the 
operations, together with attending to his ordinary 
duties, must find his time closely occupied. 
Amongst trees in the older part of the grounds we 
noticed a fine specimen of the American Holly (Ilex 
opaca). The common Holly forms trees 40 ft. to 50 ft. 
in height, with a trunk 12 ins. to 15 ins. in diameter. 
A noble and perfectly pyramidal specimen of Welling- 
tonia gigantea, 60 ft. in height, was feathered to the 
ground and in vigorous health ; we cannot account for 
its healthiness so near London, except that the sub¬ 
scenery. At one end of the ornamental water is what 
used to form a cascade or waterfall : it is faced with 
flint, but, being now completely draped and concealed 
with a mantle of Ivy, it is known as the grotto. 
Ascending this, which we can by a side path, we reach 
the top of the Mount—a high mound, although purely 
artificial, yet so well clothed with trees, shrubs and 
other vegetation, as to present a very natural appear¬ 
ance. A great profusion of Hypericum ealycinum must 
be highly effective and showy in summer ; but at 
present the observant eye can note the blackening 
berries of the Ivy as they approach maturity ; and 
Cnicus heterophyllus, as well as other noble British 
plants which we must not designate by the name of 
weeds, springing up amongst Box, Yew and mock 
Oranges. 
Some striking views are obtained in various directions 
from the top of the Mount, which is continued for some 
distance in the form of a ridge round one side of the 
