January 7, 1899. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
297 
Pteris tremula Smithiana .—Ferns : This crested 
and heavily tasselled form of Pteris tremula was a 
long time before it produced spores. Probably the 
reason was that the plants had not attained to 
maturity, but having now done so it is not uncom¬ 
mon to see some of the finer specimens bearing a full 
crop of spore?. 
WHY? 
type. Lord Carew, who is a keen lover of flowers, 
takes much interest in this house which he recently 
had built. He also takes the liveliest interest in all 
improvements and planting, which are carried out 
from time to time by his gardener. A house or two 
are also devoted to the cultivation of Orchids. 
The fruit and vegetable gardens, which lie to the 
insignis in 1888. Mr. H. M. Stanley, the celebrated 
African explorer, visited the place in 1893, and 
planted a beautiful Copper Beech to commemorate 
his visit. The list of beautiful and interesting trees 
in the arboretum might be greatly extended, but the 
above may serve to give an idea of the general 
character of the collection. The forests proper are 
also under the superintendence of Lord Carew’s 
energetic gardener. 
south side of the home farm, extend to four acres, 
and contain a fine collection of well-trained, old 
Apple and Pear trees on the south and west aspect 
walls. There are also younger espalier and cordon 
trees, all doing well. Standard and pyramid trees 
used to be grown here, but were lifted to form an 
orchard elsewhere. 
The arboretum in the park is a feature of great 
interest, as it contains a collection cf choice Conifers 
together with ornamental, deciduous, flowering trees 
and shrubs. Amongst them are some memorial 
trees of greater or less interest. The Duke of 
Clarence and the Duke of York each planted a 
"You can buy French garden produce in London 
cheaper than you can in Paris. Just now in London 
you buy French Lettuce and Radishes, and no 
English. French Apples, Pears, Peaches, Straw¬ 
berries, Asparagus, Artichokes, they are all to be 
had either earlier, or better, or cheaper than our own. 
Why ? " 
This statement, with the concluding question, 
appeared in a London daily a week or two ago, and 
formed a part of one of a series of articles from the 
pen of a gifted correspondent. " The question (he 
says) was suggested very vividly by an exhibition held 
in the Gardens of the Tuilleries. . . . TheChrj- 
santhemums were as good as, perhaps better than, 
ours ; so were the Begonias and Carnations ; but the 
insular eye turned naturally towards the poorer 
products In the matter of fruit there could be no 
question at all of French superiority. Grapes, of 
course, w>e make no pretensions to grow out of doors; 
and, indeed, it would be hopeless to compete with 
the clusters of Chasselas. But hothouse Grapes 
also were equally better than ours—a dozen kinds 
from filbert-shaped white to great round black— 
superior, whether for variety, size, or condition, to 
anything seen with us. Still, Grapes are not a 
British speciality. When it comes to Apples and 
Pears—Alas ! The French were still far, far ahead 
us - • • • But why is the Frenchman now 
master in such things as these ? It is a grief to the 
patriot as to the glutton, but he can hardly dispute 
it; and it seemed worth while trying to discover the 
reason. I knew no market gardeners, but I took a 
train to a station a few miles out of Paris, and began 
to look for one." 
In his peregrinations, this seeker after truth, found 
a market garden; also a school of horticulture, in 
which about eighty boys were trained. " There was 
View of the Lake and Grounds, Castle Boro’. 
Chestnut tree while on a visit to Castle Boro' in 
October, 1891. The Duke d'Aosta planted a tree 
of Cupressus macrocarpa in September, 1894, as in¬ 
dicated by a label. His brother, Comte de Turin, 
planted a specimen of Abies nordmanniana in 1S95. 
The nuptials ot Lord and Lady Carew were com¬ 
memorated by the planting of a fine tree of Pinus 
not much growing—he says—but there was enough 
from which to learn the secret of French success, 
which is care—intelligent and unwearying care. . . . 
They know the theory and they insist on coming up 
to it in practice, if industry and ingenuity can do it. 
They know their markets and insist on supplying 
their requirements. That is all. It is quite simple.” 
View in the Parterre, Casti.e Boro’. 
CASTLE BORO’, ENNISCORTHY. 
Castle Boro', the residence of the Right Hon. Lord 
Carew, is one of the finest seats in the county of 
Wexford. The mansion itself is built of granite, and 
although only of moderate height is very imposing in 
appearance on account of its extent, and the fact that 
it stands on somewhat elevated ground in the centre 
of a charming and very extensive park, more or less 
wooded, independently of the arboretum and other 
plantations of choice evergreen and deciduous trees 
and shrubs. The site also commands a splendid 
prospect of woodland and mountain, for the forests 
extend for many miles. The Castle consists of a 
central transept, the faces of which are octagonal, 
with T-shaped wings right and left. From the 
south front a series of terraces, mostly gravelled, 
lead down to the lake, a portion of which may be 
seen in the accompanying, lower illustration. A distant 
view of the mansion may also be noted embowered 
amongst trees. The other front of the house over¬ 
looks a fine prospect of noble Oaks, Beeches, and 
other deciduous trees with which the park is inter¬ 
spersed. 
The parterre (see illustration) on the second 
terrace from the top is laid out in beds edged with 
Box, and at either end is a representation of the 
Prince of Wales' crest,also outlined by neatly 1 rimmed 
edgings of Box, as may be seen in the view. Cherry 
Laurels are much used for bordering the pathways, 
and proceeding eastwards by one of the latter the 
flower garden is reached. It also is surrounded by 
Laurel hedges, having borders of hardy herbaceous 
plants in front of them. The beds are rendered gay 
in spring by subjects which flower at that period of 
the year. Carnations and Violas amongst other 
things are much employed for summer bedding. 
The glass raoges are pretty extensive, many of the 
houses being modern lean-to structures abutting 
against a long north wall. A Palm house occupies 
the centre, while Roses and fruit are grown in the 
west wing, the corresponding east one being largely 
devoted to flowering plants of a varied description. 
, The vineries are devoted to Black Hamburgh, Mus¬ 
cat of Alexandria, Gros Colman, and other varieties 
of Grapes. There are also Peach houses, Melon and 
Cucumber pits, forcing houses, and other structures. 
The plant houses contain a varied assortment of 
plants, all well cared for by the gardener, Mr. John 
McLennan. The Rose house contains such varieties 
as Niphetos, Adam, Devoniensis, Marechal Niel, and 
other indispensable sorts. 
Near the Palm house is a recently built structure, 
containing a rockery for Begonias and Ferns, while 
climbers adorn the roof. Wall pockets also form 
convenient receptacles for Begonias of the B. Rex 
