January 17, 1891. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
313 
of young men, study as they may, who aspire to fill a 
responsible position in the gardening profession, need 
scarcely ever hope to secure anything better than a 
labouring gardener’s situation. It may be asked how 
such men can fill their situations with satisfaction to 
their employers ? And the answer is simple enough. 
They secure foremen whom they know to be thoroughly 
practical, and who can therefore undertake the entire 
management, so that the head-gardener becomes only 
such in name, and in so far as the payment of his men 
is concerned. This is what disheartens the young men 
who are inclined to be studious, and leads them to take 
part in the demoralising eDjoymeuts of their com¬ 
panions, such as the regular reading of light literature, 
gambling, and, I am sorry to say, public-house 
company. 
This state of matters could very easily be altered, 
were encouragement offered to young men to study, by 
the establishment of competitive examinations to be 
held on certain dates in different parts of the country, 
say, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, 
&c. The examiners should be thoroughly practical 
men, who would issue certificates according to the ability 
of each successful candidate. This would prove an 
incentive to young men who are so inclined, to study 
more deeply the theoretical side of the profession, 
because they would then know that the harder they 
worked the greater would be their reward. Employers 
would at the same time very soon see that it was 
greatly to their own advantage to engage any man who 
held such certificates of competency.— Ardnahn. 
ENVILLE. 
Ox the borders of what is known as the Black Country, 
and about five miles from Stourbridge, this demesne is 
situated ; but before noting the grounds a brief sketch 
of its history may prove interesting. It was originally 
called Evenfield, shortened to Enfield, and changed to 
Enville about the beginning of the eighteenth century. 
William the Conqueror bestowed it on William 
Eitzansculph, and in the twentieth year of his reign it 
was held by one Gilbert. The name of Evenfield was 
assumed by the heirs of Gilbert, for during the reign of 
Henry III. and Elward I., Richard de Evenfield was 
possessed of the manor. This family sold it to the 
family of Lowe, of Whittington, in the reign of 
Henry VI. Humphrey Lowe was sheriff of the county, 
and was returned among the “prime gentry of the 
county of Stafford.” The principal residence was then 
at Whittington. 
The daughter and heiress of Humphrey Lowe, 
Eleanor, married Robert Grey, third son of Reginald, 
Lord Grey of Ruthin, and thus Enville passed into the 
family of Grey. Thomas Grey (who died in the second 
year of Elizabeth), whose tomb is in Enville Church, 
built a house at Enville, and in Plot’s Staffordshire 
there is a view of the south front of this old house, 
dedicated to Harry Grey, Esq , with his arms and 
quarterings. In 1739, Harry Grey, fourth Earl of 
Stamford, having purchased several estates to make 
the whole hill his own property, and having married 
Mary, the only daughter and sole heiress of George 
Booth, last Earl of Warrington, by whom he had an 
immense fortune, he spent many thousands of pounds 
in beautifying the place. In this he succeeded, for 
Dr. Wilkes says, “This he has done with as much art, 
and in so elegant a manner, that few places in England 
can rival, and none of the same compass of ground 
exceed.” The hall now, with alterations and additions, 
was built by this Earl. The poet Shenstone was a 
great friend of Harry, fourth Earl of Stamford, and 
laid out the woods and grounds of Enville. The 
church at Enville, an ancient structure, is dedicated to 
St. Mary. The north aisle was founded by the 
Lutteleys in 1333. 
In 1270, Philip de Lutteley gave lands to the 
chantry of this church, for the priest to pray at the 
altar of St. Mary, for the health of his soul, and Maud 
his wife, and other benefactors mentioned in the deed. 
The church contains many interesting monuments. In 
the north side of the chancel is a stone coffin, with the 
recumbent figure of a priest sculptured on the lid. 
Daring the restoration, this coffin was opened, and the 
skeleton of the occupant was found intact. There 
were faint traces of the robes, and the cup and paten 
lying by the right hand ; the soles of the shoes, too, 
kept in their places by the bones of the feet, were also 
in a good state of preservation. No inscription or date 
was found, but tradition says, he was the founder of 
the more modern portion of the church, viz , the 
south aisle and chancel. There is also an alabaster 
altar tomb adorned with elaborate workmanship, w'ith 
figures of a knight and his lady. The knight is in 
armour, his head resting on his helmet, at his feet a 
lion ; the lady is in the dress of the period, and towards 
her feet is a small dog catching hold of the folds of her 
robe. This is the inscription: “ Here lyeth the bodyes 
of Thomas Grey, of Enveld, esq., and Anne his wyfe, 
doughter to Sir Raffe Verney, of Pendley, within ye 
countie of Bucks, Knight, ye whyche Thomas died ye 
last day of December, in ye yere of Oure Lorde, 1559, 
and ye sayd Anne died ye day of ... in ye yere of 
Oure Lorde . . . upon whose sowles have mercy. 
Amen.” 
There are other monuments and monumental tablets 
to Henry Gray, grandson to Henry, Lord Grey of 
Groby, 1686, Harry Grey, Earl of Stamford, 1769 ; 
Lady Dorothy Grey, founder of the Girls’ Charity 
School, 17SI. The registers date from 1627. During 
1872-3-4 the church was thoroughly restored and 
beautified under the superintendence of the late Sir 
Gilbert Scott, and mainly at the expense of the late 
Earl of Stamford, who died in January, 1883. 
To give an adequate description of the grounds 
would be impossible. They are in every way beautiful, 
and include splendid Conifers, Cedars, Wellingtonias, 
Araucaria imbricata, and fine specimen Copper Beeches. 
Being so extensive, a walk round brings many fresh 
views, all alike charming, and yet so simply natural; 
this, indeed, is characteristic of Enville. The effect is 
enhanced by the pools of water and the fountains, 
while the bedding out, done on a large scale, is very 
effective, and always an object of admiration. 
Through the kindness of Lady Stamford, the grounds 
are opened to the public during the summer months 
for two days in the week, and it need hardly be said 
this privilege is appreciated by the thousands who visit 
the place year by year. 
Placed in the pleasure gardens is the conservatory, 
one of the largest in the world—a magnificent building, 
built by Gray & Orrnson thirty years ago. It is 180 ft. 
long by 90 ft. wide, and is kept gay ail the year round. 
Camellias are planted in the eight centre beds ; they 
are very robust and always flower well. Here also 
may be seen splendid examples of Dicksonia antarctica, 
with fronds 14 ft. to 16 ft. long ; in the recesses are well- 
trained specimens of Azalea indica alba, 8 ft. in height, 
and 5 ft. in diameter, which make a grand display 
when in flower; and Coprosma Baueriana variegata, 
good plants, which are very effective for decorative 
purposes. Here, too, is Acacia affinis, very useful for 
cutting, trained on the pillars and girders, while a 
plant of Chsemerops excelsa is 20 ft. high. 
Passing into the walled-in garden, attention is first 
arrested by a long and well-kept herbaceous border 
filled with well-known subjects. 
The glass structures are numerous. Eruit is ex¬ 
tensively grown, and in this branch of gardening 
Mr. Green is a master-hand. In the seven vineries 
are to be found all the well-known Grapes—excellent 
crops of Gros Colmar and Lady Downes. Pines are a 
feature, and are looking well. There are also Fig and 
Peach houses, a heated Peach case 120 yards long, in 
four divisions, three being devoted to Peaches, and a 
Cherry house. One of the Cherry trees measured 
14 yards across. 
The plant department is extensive, and cleanliness 
and order are observed in all parts of the gardens. There 
is always a large demand for cut flowers. The Orchid 
houses contain good plants of Vandas and Aerides, 
the former 2 ft. to 5 ft. high, well foliaged, and 
having plenty of roots, and smaller ones with leaves 
down to the pots. Also Cattleyas, Cypripediums, 
Oncidiums, Ansellia Africans, 12 bulbs, 2 spikes, with 
twenty-five and thirty flowers respectively. Odonto- 
glossums are well grown, and Cypripedium insigne, in 
the same house, always carry plenty of flowers. 
Maxillaria venusta, Zygopetalum Maekayi, about 
sixteen spikes, will be very good. A house is used for 
flowering plants, and is always kept gay; Primulas, 
Heliotropes, and Cyclamens were noticeable. Gardenias 
are in flower, and ten good specimens of Adiantum 
cuneatum, 3 ft. across, interspersed with Euphorbia 
jacquiniflora and Poinsettias, Bouvardias and Clivias 
have a house devoted to them. The large stove contains 
a fine batch of Eueharis amazonica, some of the finest 
in the kingdom. Careful shading, frequent syringing, 
and kept always growing, is the treatment they 
receive. Platycerium grande, the barren frond 4 fc. 
and fertile frond 5 ft. across, is a grand piece; also a 
splendid mass of P. alcicorne. A good collection of 
ordinary stove subjects, Anthurium Scherzerianum, 
5 ft. over, Ccelogyne cristata, immense pans, and a 
great number of Dendrobium nobile are likewise grown. 
A large greenhouse is utilised mainly for Azaleas, with 
Marechal Niel Roses trained on the roof. A house of 
Cinerarias, with good foliage, is full of promise. Car¬ 
nations and Mignonette in pots, are useful, while a long 
Rose house contains many good varieties. A house of 
Amaryllis, and another lot of Eueharis amazonica 
filling a good sized house, complete the notice of this 
department. 
The kitchen garden is well stocked for the various 
seasons. The admirably trained Pear trees deserve a note. 
Over 2,000 Strawberries are grown for forcing, the 
principal sorts being La Grosse Sucree,Vicomtesse Heri- 
cart de Thury and the Noble Strawberry. This closes 
the review of the establishment, and although not kept 
up in the high state that it was in former years, it will 
be obvious that Enville still maintains its reputation, 
under the management of Mr. Green, seconded by a 
capable staff of young gardeners and other assistants. 
THE APPLE IS KING. 
I sing not the fruitage of old Yucatan, 
The Citrus of Spain, or the Plums of Japan ; 
The Florida Orange may grow in the South, 
The Peach of New Jersey may melt in your mouth ; 
The broad-breasted Quince has a heavenly smell, 
And I love California Apricots well ; 
Bananas of Nassau and Malaga Grapes, 
In clustering richness and lavishing shapes,— 
They’re beautiful all, but bepraise them who will, 
A ruddy old monarch outranks them all still : 
A fruit universal, coeval with man : 
’Tis the blessed old Apple ; gainsay it who can, 
— A,inerivxn Paper. 
The Conservatory at Enville, Stourdridge. 
