April 28, 1894. 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
549 
THE ELMS, CASTLE BAR, 
EALING. 
Of the many pretty suburban residences within easy 
reach of the great palpitating City, those which 
occupy this particularly favoured region, are hardly 
to be excelled. In a place like Ealing where de¬ 
tached villas abound in large numbers, each enjoying 
a certain amount of privacy, and a prospect more or 
less pleasing, what wonder that they are eagerly 
Brent valley.and the scholastic town of classic Harrow. 
There Byron went to school to " pore o'er the 
precepts by pedagogues taught,” and there also 
many of our distinguished men passed some of their 
earlier years. 
In the opposite direction lies the Thames Valley, 
and beyond the picturesque borough of Richmond ; 
while, when the mists permit, the modern Babylon 
itself may loom in sight. 
The conservatory', which is a handsome structure 
was first visited ; and, besides the usual flowering 
and foliage subjects, a fine specimen Araucaria 
excelsa, about 8 ft. high, with lovely spreading 
branches, demanded attention. Round this beautiful 
Pine were grouped such things as Seaforthia elegans 
Grevillea robusta. Ferns, &c., the Soft Shield Fern 
(Aspidium angulare), being particularly pleasing. 
Tritellia uniflora, which Mr. Edwards uses with 
A Group of Daffodils. (See page 551.) 
sought for, and made the most of when obtained ? 
The houses themselves, and the pretty plots by 
which they are encompassed, contribute not a little 
to that friendly horticultural rivalry which is here 
apparent, and which has consequently found expres¬ 
sion in that concise but indicative phrase, "garden- 
town.” 
The Elms, however, the subject of the present 
sketch, is situated on the apex of the hill, or " bar,” 
and, in consequence, possesses many advantages 
over a large number of its well-to-do compeers. On 
the one hand it commands extensive views of the 
Having now taken a comprehensive view of 
The Elms’ surroundings, we will devote the remain¬ 
ing phrases to a description, or an indication, of its 
little paradise. The house itself is commodious and 
well appointed, which the proprietor, W. Owen, 
Esq., has done much to beautify, and otherwise 
rendered substantial service to the cause of horti¬ 
culture ; and in this he has been ably seconded by 
Mr. C. Edwards, the skilful gardener, who, since his 
first appearance here, about eight years ago, has 
demonstrated his knowledge of plants and plant 
culture. 
considerable effect, although out of bloom, still does 
duty as an edging to other plants. As this charm¬ 
ing little Star-flower does well out of doors with me, 
I would suggest that it be used—say in conjunction 
with Silene or Myosotis—as a spring bedder, which 
its freedom of flowering and simplicity of culture 
would fullyjustify. As regards climbers, they are only 
used sparingly in this conservatory, there being little 
else than Plumbago capensis and Cobaea scandens 
variegata. Thence to the vineries where, in the 
advanced house. Black Hamburgh, Buckland’s Sweet¬ 
water and Foster’s Seedling, were doing well. Con- 
