302 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
January 11, 1896. 
us a new plantation of i|- acres ; for the 
Hon. Mark Rolle keeps increasing the 
Arboretum so as to include the best of the 
more recent introductions. He is a great 
enthusiast, and takes personal interest in 
his splendid collection of trees. 
The Arboretum extends round the deer 
park and varies in width, according to the 
nature of the ground, which is beatifully un¬ 
dulated and well watered throughout its 
length with a clear running stream, and 
has several lakes and ponds in the lower 
reaches. The main walk traversing it is 
one and a half miles long. We should 
first speak of the grand avenue of Arau¬ 
carias leading from the public highway 
towards the mansion. It is 500 yards long, 
and has twenty-six large Araucarias on 
each side of it. These trees have a noble 
and telling appearance to the eye of the 
visitor, whatever his profession. A collection 
of trees on the boundary of the grounds near 
Bicton Church, also arrests the attention of, 
and pleases the eye of all wayfarers. In this 
instance we single out a perfectly sym¬ 
metrical, pyramidal tree of Picea Smithii, 
about forty feet in height, and girthing 
10 ft. 4 in. at 5 ft. from the ground. There 
are, however, many other fine specimens of 
various Conifers and other subjects here, 
including huge clumps of Himalayan and 
other Rhododendrons, beside the lower lake 
and various ponds and canals. 
The main portion of the Arboretum and 
the most interesting—because stocked with 
the rich collection of Conifers, which com¬ 
mand and excite the most interest in the 
beholder at mid-winter—lies in a romantic 
hollow considerably beneath the level of the 
large upper lake. The soil consists of a 
deep, red loam, inclined to be sandy, and 
is kept moist, it is believed, by the oozing 
of water through it from the lake above. 
The situation here is well sheltered, 
although at an elevation of ninety feet 
above the sea level. Other portions of the 
grounds are more exposed. The rainfall, 
of which Mr. Mayne keeps a record, was 
33.50 in. in 1834 an d 30.67 in 1895, so that 
the place is fairly well watered. 
A magnificent specimen of Pseudotsuga 
Douglasii taxifolia is sufficient to fill the 
tree-lover’s heart with envy. It is sixty- 
five feet high at least, the picture of health, 
and was planted by the grandfather of Mr. 
Peter Veitch, of Exeter. Of the typical 
Douglas Fir there are several, but two of 
them are specially fine. Near by, on the 
banks of the lake, is a broadly pyramidal 
tree of Cupressus macrocarpa, sixty feet 
high and a perfect picture of health. C. 
lambertiana in a more- sheltered position 
was killed last winter. A noble tree of 
Abies cephalonica is fifty feet high and 
feathered to the ground on one side, the 
huge limbs having a spread of thirty feet. 
Two spiry specimens of Thuya gigantea 
tower up to a height of fifty feet; and two 
of Cryptomeria japonica, forty to forty-five 
feet high and perfectly pyramidal, are said 
to be the best pair in the country. There 
are others but little inferior to them about 
the grounds, coning freely and of a beauti¬ 
ful green, while C. elegans is equally hand¬ 
some in its bronzy winter garb. The 
finest Pinus insignis in Devon (and that is 
saying a great deal) is sixty feet high, with 
a spread of fifty-six feet. It has eleven 
huge limbs originating from the main stem 
at various points from one to seven feet 
from the ground, and the trunk girths nine- 
and-a-half feet about the latter level; it 
was measured in 1893. 
The Hemlock Spruce(Tsuga canadensis) 
stands forty-five feet high, andis altogether 
handsome. The best specimen of Abies 
webbiana we have seen is forty feet high, 
and charming with its long leaves, which 
are silvery-white beneath. Cunninghamia 
sinensis is rather tender, but no mean object 
at thirty-five feet high. There are many 
"Wellingtonias (more properly named 
Sequoia gigantea) about the grounds, and 
a group of eighteen fairly good trees. A 
fine sample of S. sempervirens or Red¬ 
wood, forty feet in height, is in perfect 
health. Some tall trees of the Deodar 
Cedar arrest the attention, especially a 
specimen girthing twelve feet within a 
fraction of an inch. Pine trees are plenti¬ 
ful, both in numbers and in species, includ¬ 
ing Pinus excelsa, P. russelliana, the finest 
in the country, P. Strobus, P. Pinea, P. 
inops, P. patula, with long leaves all droop¬ 
ing on one side of the branches, and many 
others. Besides those above mentioned, 
Abies also includes A. nobilis, A. concolor, 
and A. concolor violacea, the two latter 
being charming trees, thirty feet high, and 
being in close proximity the contrast of 
colour is well marked. 
The Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticil- 
lata) is ten feet high ; but more particularly 
charming are the broad, conical, healthy 
specimens of Thujopsis dolobrata about 
fifteen feet in stature. Nor can we omit 
mentioning the Himalayan Juniperus 
recurva, twenty feet high and a perfect 
picture. Retinospora plumosa, R. squar- 
rosa, R. pisifera, and R. obtusa are a credit 
to the place. The tender Prumnopitys 
elegans is in perfect health, and ten feet 
high. Ihe beautiful Cupressus torulosa 
has a stature of thirty feet, and the White 
Cedar (C. thyoides) rises to thirty-five feet; 
both are uncommon trees. Many other 
fine Conifers might be added, but space 
restricts us. 
Interesting evergreens, belonging to other 
natural orders, confront the visitor at every 
turn. The walls of the sunk garden of the 
Elizabethan pattern, are covered with 
Magnolia grandiflora; and the main walk 
is skirted on either side by twenty large, 
umbrella-headed standards of the Sweet 
Bay. Here also are fine bushes of Rhodo¬ 
dendron arboreum and its hybrids, R. indi- 
cum, in perfect health, and tall clumps of 
Kalmia latifolia, all of which flower freely. 
Nor must the deciduous American Azaleas 
be overlooked. Ercilla spicata is flowering 
upon a wall, and the graceful Azara micro- 
phylla, so useful amongst cut flowers in 
lieu of Ferns, is preparing to do so, as are 
Camellias on the higher grounds. Staun- 
tonia latifolia bears its fragrant flowers 
every year, and a large specimen of Mag¬ 
nolia fuscata, well known for its delicious 
scent, has been flowering since May. 
Here also are M. grandiflora Exmouth 
variety,Portugal Laurels of great stature, and 
Akebia quinata. A hardy fernery amongst 
the trees, and furnished with many huge 
boulders of Devonshire rock of curious 
formation, is worthy of inspection. A 
museum of shells by the fernery should 
prove of immense interest to a specialist. 
Deciduous trees would furnish a theme 
of interest for a summer’s day when in full 
leaf. They are situated on gradually rising 
ground beyond the romantic glen of 
Conifers, and are arranged in groups of 
allied species, including collections of Oaks, 
Hornbeams, Beeches, Walnuts, Elms, 
Thorns, Maples, Ashes, Hazels, and many 
others which furnish an excellent oppor¬ 
tunity for botanical study or otherwise. 
The path winds through groups of ever¬ 
greens, such as Himalayan and other 
Rhododendrons, some of which are flower¬ 
ing freely ; also Heaths, Box, Leptosper- 
mum, Hollies, and the curious, thorny, for¬ 
bidding Colletia bictonense, and C. spinosa 
in full bloom. 
The park contains giant specimens of 
Beech, Oak, Black Poplar, Elm, Lime, an 
avenue of Spanish Chestnuts, and many 
other forest trees. The Beech may well be 
styled the Queen of the Woods, for there 
are many noble trees at various points of 
the estate. The Ailanthus in the American 
garden reaches a height of fifty feet. Near 
the gardener’s residence stands a tree of 
the Black Poplar, girthing 19 ft. 1 \ in. at 
three feet from the ground. Long ere we 
left we felt very much indebted to Mr. 
Mayne. 
-- 
Catalogues are now in full bloom, and certainly 
make a brave display even in winter— Sitaqgs. 
Saltash (in the north of Cornwall) says that fruit 
growing there for the last three or four years has not 
been what it was previously. It is overdone, and 
gluts the market. 
Still they come.— The Gardening World described 
seventy-five Chrysanthemums which received certi¬ 
ficates during the past season in London and the 
vicinity. The Chrysanthemum Society of America 
certificated thirty-four. 
An early wasp was captured and killed in Leicester¬ 
shire on the 7th ult., and another outside of Kew 
Gardens on the 29th. This is surely evidence of an 
unusually mild winter ; but all the same such wasps 
may be regarded as exceptional instances. 
The Soilly flower trade.—One cannot very well get 
over the fact that flowers grown in Scilly are neither 
so forward nor so plentiful as is usual at this season 
of the year ; nevertheless, although the supply has 
scarcely kept company with the demand, a fair 
business has been done with Covent Garden and 
other markets, and there are prospects that the trade 
in the early spring will be as active as in preceding 
years, if not more so. We base the latter remark on 
the fact that growers of Narcissi and other choice 
flowers have recently added largely to their forcing 
houses, and in other ways endeavoured to meet the 
yearly growing demands made for their renowned 
productions, 
The Emigrants’ Information Office has drawn up 
some paragraphs on the prospects of emigration to 
the Colonies at the present time, and from these we 
glean a few particulars. It is too early in the year to 
emigrate to Canada. There is practically no 
demand for more labour in the meantime in 
New South Wales, Victoria, nor in South Australia. 
There is a fair demand for farm labourers on the 
sugar plantations at Townsville, in the North of 
Queensland, mainly from June to December. There 
is a good demand for miners and mechanics at 
Coolgardie in Western Australia. There is no 
general demand for labour in Tasmania, though 
industrious mechanics, by combining with their trades 
poultry-raising and butter-making, can make a 
comfortable living. t Things are rather brighter in 
New Zealand; but no demand for gardeners is 
specified anywhere. 
Re-Union of Messrs. Dobbie & Co's Employees.—This 
interesting annual event took place on the 27th ult.,in 
the Lesser New Public Halls, and was, as in previous 
years, a very great success. The company numbered 
about 120, and was presided over by Mr. Wm. 
Cuthbertson, the head of the firm, supported by ex- 
Bailie Burness, Mr. A. M. Burnie, Mrs. Cuthbertson, 
Miss Burnie, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Christie, Messrs. 
Dunn, Jones, M'Murchie, and others. After tea, 
purveyed in a very attractive manner by Mr. A. 
Crichton, Argyle Street, the Chairman, in the course 
of his address compared the temperature at their seed 
farm, Orpington, Kent, and at Rothesay in Bute as 
experienced last winter, the difference being 18 0 in 
favour of Bute. Neither did the latter place suffer 
from drought like other parts of Britain. From a 
business point of view 1895 bad been the most 
successful year yet experienced in the history of the 
firm. The volume of trade had been much larger, 
as they all knew, and the firm had consequently 
been enabled to give employment to an increased 
number of men. Another farm had been acquired in 
Bute for the growing of select agricultural seeds. 
He concluded with some excellent advice to the 
young men. Other speakers followed, and a very 
attractive programme of vocal and instrumental 
music, recitations, &c., was gone through. An 
assembly followed, in which thirty.five couples took 
part, and dancing was carried on with great spirit 
till an early hour in the morning. 
