550 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
May 2nd, 1885. 
GRAVEL PATHS AND WEEDS. 
One of the first and most essential things with 
those who wish their gardens to present a well-kept 
appearance is clean gravel 'paths, and to keep them 
clean and neat, considerable expense is incurred in 
re-gravelling, or, where the depth of gravel will admit 
of it, in turning them. In 'many localities, from the 
distance gravel has to be brought it comes very 
expensive, and this is not the only objection, for 
should wet weather set in at the time, a great deal 
of annoyance and discomfort will result from dirt 
and grit being carried into the house on our boots. 
When all this has been done, even in the most 
satisfactory manner, it will not be very long before 
the weeds put in an appearance, when either hand- 
weeding or salting is generally resorted to. The first 
process is a very tedious one, and owing to the 
loosening of the gravel, and the loss resulting by 
much of it, when loose, being swept away, is a 
wasteful and, as' I will show, a very unnecessary 
proceeding. 
To salting the walks there are several objections. 
First, it only lasts for a limited time, and unless the 
application of it is pretty frequently repeated the 
weeds will grow all the stronger after a time. Again, 
it is unsightly, and should dry weather ensue it often 
lays a long time and gets carried into the house 
and on to the grass, which it turns brown. On the 
other hand, it sometimes happens that a sudden 
storm comes' on, when it gets washed into the grass 
verges and kills the grass wherever it touches; and 
the most careful cannot always avoid either of these 
contingencies happening. 
Having had a good experience of Smith’s Weed 
Killer, which I see advertised in your columns, I can 
with the greatest confidence recommend it as being 
the most labour-saving material ever brought under 
the notice of the gardening community. If anything 
can be urged against it, it is that if universally used 
the sale would drop off after one season, because it 
does its work so well that there would not be so much 
of it wanted. This, however, is a producer’s objection, 
and the consumer is not likely to urge it. Its appli¬ 
cation is simple, the only thing to be attended to is to 
saturate the paths evenly with the solution, and not 
to let it touch either grass or box edging. My own 
practice is to protect them with one inch of sand. 
This we have found quite sufficient, and when dry it 
can be swept up and used again, but not for any other 
purpose, and this should be specially borne in mind. 
Fowls and domestic animals must be kept out of the 
way till it has soaked into the ground, and if these 
simple precautions are taken it is quite safe. 
We have some paths which were treated with it 
two years ago, with very few weeds in them, and still 
looking bright and fresh. It not only keeps the 
weeds down, but seems also to consolidate the gravel, 
making it when dry more firm and solid. Another 
recommendation is its cheapness, the first cost of 
doing the same amount of surface of gravel with it 
being about one half the cost of salt. All who may 
give it a trial will soon see that an annual or biennal 
re-gravelling is a very unnecessary expense. I should 
add that when using it the operator should avoid 
wetting his hands as much as possible, which with 
care can easily be managed.—IF. B. G. 
—— 
BELYOIR CASTLE, GRANTHAM. 
Manx have heard of this splendid seat of the Duke 
of Rutland’s, and not a few of the beautiful Spring 
Garden which Mr. William Ingram has created as a 
product of his own genius. The Castle stands on a 
spur of the range of hills that rise from the Yale of 
Belvoir, running east and west, and attaining a mean 
elevation of 400 ft. They give a feature of interest 
to the landscape, and their picturesque character is 
enhanced by the rich woods with which they are 
clothed as far as the eye can reach in each direction. 
The Castle itself seems embowered in trees, and it is 
only on approaching it by a broad carriage-road that 
sweeps in bold curves through the encompassing wood 
that we observe that around its towers are extensive 
slopes of smooth lawn on the south approach, while 
on the east a portion of the ancient earth embankment 
that formerly surrounded the castle still remains, and 
shows what a formidable stronghold it was even as late 
as the time of Charles I., keeping at bay as it did the 
Parliamentary forces for the space of six weeks. A 
bastion abuts from the west terrace, and the cannon 
with which it is furnished commands the chief 
approach and the glacis sloping from the Castle. 
A broad walk is carried along the foot of the glacis, 
shaded by a noble line of evergreen Oaks, and beneath 
them a screen of shrubs effectively concealing the 
Castle gardens. This is done with the best taste, as 
privacy is secured for the gardens, which, though so 
close, are still concealed, and the flowers are not 
brought prominently into notice, as the juxtaposition 
of cannons and flower-beds would be incongruous 
and out of character. Near the carriage-road a path 
pierces the screen of Evergreens, and, passing through 
a gate, we enter 
The Castle Garden, 
which is richly surrounded by noble trees and shrubs. 
A Silver Fir of grand altitude stands in the gardens ; 
a copper Beech is also a striking object; and a 
splendid specimen of Magnolia tripetala 'occupies a 
central position. A charming summer-house gives a 
pleasing feature to the garden, and fronting this retreat 
are numerous flower-beds, clothed at every season of 
the year with plants appropriate to the time, but 
especially bright and gay in the early spring months 
with Alpine and hardy flowers, for w 7 hich Belvoir has 
long been famous. One of the great charms of the place 
is in the prevailing irregularity of outline, and this 
is seen in a very marked degree in the flower garden. 
Looking from the commanding position of this garden, 
a charming view is obtained of a beautiful dell 
embossed in trees. Towards its lowest depth rests an 
elaborate arrangement of flower-beds; disposed as 
architectural adjuncts are six statues, representing 
the mythological deities that typify the seasons; these 
were the work of a brother of Colley Cibber, the 
dramatic poet, and formed part of the embellishment 
of an ancient and more elaborate garden. Going along 
the broad walk that encircles the Castle, at the foot of 
the grassy slope that surrounds it, and immediately 
below the terraces that rise in tiers on the south side, 
there are two fine examples of CupressusLawsoniana, 
planted by their Royal Highnesses the Prince and 
Princess of Wales, on the occasion of their visit to 
Belvoir Castle some years ago. Then retracing our 
steps and gaining the carriage approach road, we 
turn from the Castle and, descending the hill, reach 
what is called 
The Hoese-shoe Turn, 
where rve find converging roads leading east, west, 
and south; the southern road is up a steep ascent, 
conducting to the Mausoleum and to Blackberry Hill. 
It may be mentioned that the Mausoleum is shown 
on application. Then branching from the main road, 
out of the foot of the ascent, a walk turns into the 
wood called the Duke’s Walk; this conducts us to the 
“ Garden in the Walk,” sometimes known as the 
Duchess’s Garden, a singularly beautiful spot, situated 
on the hillside, in the form of a bay, exposed to the 
south, and guarded on the north-east, north, and west 
by tall trees that rise from the sides and on the em- 
bourage of hills. In this sheltered spot the Camellia 
grows and flowers, the Bay tree flourishes, the Bam¬ 
boo grows luxuriantly, and a magnificent Araucaria 
imbricata stands in a central position in the garden. 
The arborescent vegetation is also represented by 
some fine examples of Cedar of Lebanon, Hemlock 
Spruce, Deciduous Cypress, Silver Birch, Lawson’s 
Cypress, and the Chinese Juniper. Rare and beautiful 
shrubs are distributed about the garden; Azara 
microphylla, a lovely-flowering shrub, deliciously 
fragrant when flowering in early spring, and not 
nearly enough grown ; Olearia Haastii, and many fine 
Azaleas and Rhododendrons; the variegated Acer 
negundo has a particularly bright effect when in full 
leaf. On the 
Grass? Banks and Gentle Slopes 
flower-beds are disposed, and terraced beds hold up 
the steeper portions of the garden: all these beds are 
filled summer and winter. The spring display, such 
as can now be seen there, is most delightful and 
beautiful during March, April, and May, -when the 
noble owner has the opportunity of enjoying them. 
The great feature of the garden is the rock-work, 
profusely covered with Alpines and other hardy 
plants. This extends along the upper slopes of the 
semi-circle of hills, and from the walks and slopes 
that lead to its summit fine views of the lower 
reaches of the garden are obtained and of the 
adjacent country. A waterfall adds to the picturesque 
beauty of the scene, and many interesting plants may 
be found distributed in suitable positions on its slopes. 
This may be called the first resting-place in the 
Duke’s Walk, which extends for nearly three miles. 
Round the hill beyond the garden, and connected 
with the walk, are various seats, a grotto, summer¬ 
houses, and the garden of the fountain. To reach 
these a long day is required. 
The Kitchen Garden. 
To reach the kitchen garden it is necessary to return 
towards the Castle, and either go by way of the dairy, 
by a steep path descending from the Horse-shoe Turn, 
or by pursuing the carriage-road, leading either past 
the Turn or southwards, when a sharp curve to the 
left conducts past the dairy-road to the approach to 
the kitchen garden by an imposing avenue, that runs 
through a wood called the Wilderness. This avenue 
is terminated by a Gothic-arched entrance to the 
kitchen garden, a space of eight acres enclosed within 
high walls, and having a fine range of vineries fronting 
the walls on its northern extremity. 
The interest of this garden is less in its fruit trees— 
the collection of which is extensive—or its crops of 
vegetables, but in the great collection of herbaceous 
plants found in the reserve garden, which supplies the 
extensive flower garden near the Castle. There is a 
growing desire for flowers of a more varied character 
and of greater interest than are found in an ordinary 
garden devoted to bedding-plants, and this want 
Mr. Ingram is meeting by collecting and cultivating 
a large collection of the most manageable and desirable. 
Large beds of Narcissi, Anemones, Tulips, Scillas, the 
beautiful Chionodoxa Lucilias (Glory of the Snow), 
Primulas, Auriculas, Gentians, Corydalis, reveal the 
character of the garden in spring. In summer can be 
seen Aquilegias, Limnanthes, the double Pyrethrums, 
the beautiful double white Rocket, Tropasolum poly- 
phyllum, the Alpine Poppy, St. Brunos’ Lily, Lilium 
tenuifolium, and other species and varieties, Saxifraga 
Cotyledon, Verbaseum phoenicium, the pretty Primula 
Sikkimensis, Gentiana septemfida, Gladioli, and a 
host of others—all beautiful and hardy—serve to 
illustrate the interest in the herbaceous garden. 
Plant-houses, Cucumber-houses, Strawberry and Pine 
pits, are found without the walls, and extensive 
orchards surround the gardens on a scale of importance 
commensurate with the grandeur of the Castle. 
The Spring Garden. 
But what pen is competent to do justice to the 
beauty of the famed Spring Garden as seen at the 
middle of April. It is so utterly unlike, and so 
unapproachably superior to any of the spring gardens 
seen or heard of in the past, that its peculiar charms 
must be seen to be appreciated. Unusual precocity 
is the ruling characteristic of the spring display. By 
means of persistent selection Mr. Ingram has so 
“educated” (as he terms it) his plants—selecting 
the very earliest types that he has, Primroses and 
many other things in bloom long before they are 
seen in flower farther south. Snowdrops, Crocuses, 
Hyacinths, Scillas, Chionodoxa, Tulips, Narcissi, 
Primroses, Polyanthus, Aubrietias, Arabis, Forget- 
me-nots, Saxifrages, large-leaved and mossy, Anemones, 
and many other things, too numerous to mention, are 
employed in this unrivalled garden. Where else can 
be seen the beautiful creeping Forget-me-not (Ornplia- 
lodes verna) as it is to be noted here, so free, so large 
in blossom, and of such a beautiful blue. Saxifraga 
ligulata, one of the earliest of the large-leaved Saxi¬ 
frages, is largely used by Mr. Ingram, and with the 
best possible effect. But it is impossible to do justice 
to Mr. Ingram’s Spring Garden by any description— 
it must be seen to be properly appreciated.— R. D. 
Watering Gardens. —We learn from Messrs. Merry- 
weather, of Long Acre, that over fifteen miles of the 
Patent Antimonial Red Rubber Garden Hose was 
despatched by them last season to all parts of the 
globe, and they anticipate the manufacture of treble 
the quantity this season. This particular sort of hose 
is carefully made by hand from pure raw Para Caout¬ 
chouc and Antimony strengthened wflth linen, and 
is undoubtedly a good article. 
