June 16, 1894. 
661 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
HOLLAND HOUSE. 
Once inside the gates of Holland House, Kensington, 
the town residence of Lord Ilchester, the visitor 
seems amongst woodland and rural scenes far 
removed from crowded thoroughfares, although in 
reality in the very midst of them, but densely screened 
on all sides both by giant old Elm, Beech, Oak and 
other forest trees with an undergrowth of the dwarfer 
trees and shrubs that are favourites with the modern 
planter. Indeed, for some years past extensive addi¬ 
tions have been made to the collections of trees and 
shrubs that are ornamental either for their flowers, 
their foliage, or both. The most recent addition is a 
collection of Bamboos. Moreover, one may see a 
combination of the older with the more recent style 
of gardening on his ancient estate. The flower 
garden is an excellent pattern of a summer flower 
garden closely occupying the ground, and having the 
beds surrounded by box edgings. This is well 
sheltered, being surroun¬ 
ded by high walls on three 
sides and by the house 
itself on the other. One of 
the walls is covered with 
an interesting collection of 
climbers, which keep up a 
long succession of bloom. 
Ceanothus dentatus, C. 
grandiflora, Indigofera 
Gerardiana and Clematis 
lanuginosa are in bloom at 
the present time. The 
latter is a form with semi¬ 
double, pale lilac flowers, 
but curiously enough, one 
flower upon the same 
plant is perfectly single. 
Elaeagnus pungens aurea 
is a beautiful variety, with 
most of the leaves of a 
bright yellow. 
The extensive collec¬ 
tion of beautiful trees and 
shrubs, as well as the 
numerous bright bits of 
rockery at different places 
about the grounds, repre¬ 
sent some of the more 
modern or up-to-date 
phases ofgardening. Close 
by a small pond, surroun¬ 
ded with trees, are three 
pieces of rockwork, one of 
which is of quite recent 
formation, yet all are 
well covered with choice 
rock plants. Aren aria 
montana is a mass of 
white bloom .and very con¬ 
spicuous as it falls down 
over the ledges. Similar to 
this are the flowers of 
Cerastium Biebersteinii, 
with larger flowers and 
leaves than the well known 
C. tomentosum, which it 
otherwise resembles. 
Handsome Saxifragas are 
Saxifraga Camposii and S. 
dentata.the former belong¬ 
ing to the palmate-leaved 
type, and one of the choicest of them. We noted a 
healthy bit of Lobelia litoralis which had lived out 
the last winter upon the rockery. lonopsidium 
acaule is bright with its myriads of lilac flowers pro¬ 
duced by plants about ij in. high. The best of the 
pure white Candytufts, namely, Iberis correafolia, is 
now in perfection. Cypripedium californicum is an 
interesting species with the habit of C. pubescens, 
but the flowers are very different; the sepals are 
yellow, the petals paler, and the lip white. Very 
profuse in blue flowers are Veronica rupestris and 
V. profusa. The latter is slower in growth, with 
slightly broader leaves and larger flowers if any¬ 
thing. The large purple flowers of Aubrietia 
Henderson! have been showy for a long time. The 
glaucous leaves, white flowers, and trailing stems of 
Gypsophila repens present another typical kind of 
rock plant, always appearing most at home in 
association with stones. The Edelweiss Leontopodium 
alpinum, otherwise known as Gnaphalium Leonto¬ 
podium finds a place here, and seems happy, although 
somewhat soiled by the heavy rains. Very choice 
are Androsace coronopifolia and Silene alpestris, 
both having white flowers. Geranium sanguineum 
and the wild Viola cornuta look more at home on the 
rockery than they do in the herbaceous border, 
although both are amenable for culture under 
different conditions. A large mass of Iris Pseud- 
Acorus, or Flower-de-luce, looks healthy and happy 
at the water edge, and will be gay with yellow 
flowers presently. Strong masses of Cytisus 
nigricans nana, only a foot high, will be a mass of 
yellow flowers in a few weeks. 
Other two pieces of rockwork crop up in other 
parts of the ground. On one of them is the inter¬ 
esting and pretty Rosa alpina, only 6 in, high, and 
bearing single, deep rosy flowers. Here also are 
the Cheddar Pink, Linum perenne, Hypericum 
Moserianum, Veronica officinalis, and the bright¬ 
eyed Germander Speedwell (V. Chamaedry’s) 
flowering profusely according to its wont. The long 
trailing stems of Mesembryanthemum edule repre¬ 
sent a singular kind of vegetation. 
On each side of the door of the mansion is a newly 
constructed piece of rockwork, already appearing 
well established with interesting subjects of various 
kinds. Lychnis viscaria and its pure white variety 
L. v. alba have been in bloom for some time. 
Ramondia pyrenaica is a rock plant of the first water, 
and so is Saxifraga aizoides with its yellow flowers ; 
it has been brought direct from its mountain home in 
Scotland, and has taken well to its new quarters. 
Arenaria balearica. Campanula muralis, Dianthus 
alpinus with its deep rose flowers on stems only 2 in. 
high, the creeping, carpet like Linaria hepaticaefolia, 
Erinus alpinus, Saponaria cccymoides and Edrai- 
anthus serpyllifolia, all from various parts of the world, 
are nestling side by side and flowering as they would 
on there native rocks. The large white flowers and 
rich dark green leaves of Cistus florentinus are well 
deserving of a little attention on account of their 
showy character. Elsewhere Phyteuma orbiculare 
with its deep blue flowers is now at its best. 
Hardy flowers of all sorts are favourites at Holland 
House, and in various places may be seen a collection 
of Columbines, another of Violas, and a third of 
herbaceous plants including many of the more popu¬ 
lar annuals used for cut flower purposes. A wild 
garden has been established in an open space sur¬ 
rounded by trees at no great distance off. Here the 
seeds of various subjects have been sown broadcast 
and allowed to grow as they please. Some of them 
ripen and scatter their seeds in abundance, and look 
as if they would require to be held in check by the 
hand of man to prevent their monopolising the ground 
to the exclusion of other kinds. Seeds of the Broom 
were collected in their wild habitats, and plants rais¬ 
ed from them. They are now large bushes, and it is 
remarkable how different they are in their times of 
flowering. Some of them are nearly over while others 
are only showing their 
flower buds. Other sub¬ 
jects now flowering are 
Foxgloves, Aconites, a 
good strain of Hesperis 
matronalis with delicately 
coloured flowers, Lychnis 
diurna, Papaver umbro- 
sum, Comphreys, Calen¬ 
dula officinalis, various 
Strawberries, Pansies, 
Erysimum cheiranthoi- 
des, Thlaspi arvense, and 
others. There also in wild 
profusion are various gar¬ 
den annuals, also Chry¬ 
santhemum segetum, C. 
uligincsum, Silene inflata. 
Sunflowers, Michaelmas 
Daisies, Papaver orient- 
ale, Coltsfoot and many 
other subjects thriving 
with a greater or less 
degree of vigour. The 
whole of the ground is 
completely covered almost 
to the exclusion of grass. 
At a short distance from 
the house on one aspect 
of it are mixed beds of 
various subjects, includ¬ 
ing Rhododendrons, fine 
leaved shrubs, and other 
subjects. A large bed of 
Lilium croceum, L.dahur. 
icum. Delphiniums, and 
Cannas will be gay in a 
short time. A long curved 
border in front of trees 
contains a considerable 
variety of choice or un¬ 
common shrubs, which 
have now been established 
for four years. Amongst 
others we noted Vibur¬ 
num plicatum, Coronilla 
Emerus, and Sweet F'ern 
(Comptonia asplenifolia). 
The Lilies amongst them 
are remarkably vigorous. 
Phillyrea decora has un¬ 
fortunately been greatly 
injured by the recent frost. Close by upon 
the grass Cytisus Alschingeri is grown as a 
standard ; it is about 8 ft. high, has been established 
about four years, and bears pendulous racemes of 
yellow flowers. 
A mixed bed of peat-loving subjects is also very 
interesting. A hybrid Rhododendron named R. 
fragrans has white flowers edged with pink, and 
delicately fragrant. Others are Menziesia polifolia. 
Ledum latifolium, Kalmia angustifolia, and K. a. 
pumila about lo in. to 12 in. high. Gaultheria 
Shallon acutifolia is dwarfer than the type, and has 
globular, hairy white flowers. A lively bit of colour 
is presented by Andromeda japonica albo-marginata. 
Beautiful bits of colour are presented by the Purple¬ 
leaved Peach, the dark purple Quercus pedunculata 
atro-purpurea, the yellow Quercus concordia and the 
golden Laburnum. Several of the Maples have 
been more or less crippled by the recent 
frost. 
Pyrus Floribunda. 
