678 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
June 26, 1897. 
above the Thames, which forms the boundary 
between this county and Buckinghamshire. The 
chalk here comes to the surface owing to an eleva¬ 
tion of the beds, and has been cut through by the 
denuding agency of the Thames in ancient times, so 
that the northern and eastern aspect of the hill form 
a good example of a sharply-sloping river-cliff, on 
which the Castle is built. Chalk rock is to be seen 
in the ice-house of the Castle, as well as at other 
points, although at Datchet about a mile off, it is 
117 ft. below the surface. 
Looking northward, the eye extends over a river- 
flat and a wide gravel plain, geologically speaking. 
In the near distance, the eye looks down upon the 
Home Park,and a little more to the right,Eton with its 
conspicuous Chapel, behind which is Eton College. 
The Home Park is public property, having been 
granted by the Crown, together with a road made 
through it for the purpose of shutting up a road and 
securing the privacy of the Royal policies on the wes¬ 
tern side of the hill. These alterations were sanctioned 
and ratified by an act of Parliament. On the occasion 
of our visit on the 12th inst., preparations were being 
made in the Home Park, by the 1,400 to 2,000 
soldiers at present stationed at Windsor, and by 
others, for the entertainment of some 6,000 children 
after Jubilee Day. A glance at the accompanying 
illustration (p. 677) will show a view of Windsor 
Castle from the Home Park, and the thickly-wooded 
slopes extending from the North Terrace down to 
the banks of the Thames. 
THE TERRACE GARDEN. 
Oj the eastern side of the Castle, and in keeping with 
the architecture, is a formal garden of a mixed 
English and Italian type. The garden itself is nearly 
rectangular in outline, and about 6 ft. or more below 
the level of the terrace surrounding it. By Her 
Majesty's gracious permission the public gets access 
to promenade the terrace walks surrounding the 
garden on Saturdays, when a band plays for the en¬ 
tertainment of the same. Bedding-out was in active 
progress on the occasion of our visit. Zonal Pelar¬ 
goniums are largely used in the beds, including 
bronze varieties, also Iresines, Mesembryan hemum 
cordifolium variegatum, and other useful subjects. 
Mr. Owen Thomas, the Queen's gardener, finds that 
Pelargoniums produce the best and most continuous 
colour effects, owing to the warm and sheltered con¬ 
dition of the garden, together with full exposure to 
sunshine For these reasons Begonias are less satis¬ 
factory. The monotony of flatness is everywhere 
broken up by numerous trimly kept, columnar, 
pyramidal or cone-shaped, and dome-shaped Hollies, 
green and golden Yews, Thuyas, Cupressus, and 
other Conifers as well as Box. Another Italian 
feature is presented by several massively elaborate 
and valuable vases and statues, or figures. On an 
eastern slope are beds of Rock Roses, flowering pro¬ 
fusely, and masses of purple Heather (Calluna). 
Outside the terrace wall on the east, and almost 
overhanging the garden is the largest tree of Pau- 
lowia imperiilis we have seeo, and still carrying 
some of its violet-purple flowers. At one corner is a 
broad-headed tree of Koelreuteria paniculata which 
flowered well last year, and is preparing to do so 
again. To the west the eye wanders over one of the 
loveliest prospects of woodland to be seen in the 
United Kingdom. It is Windsor Great Park or 
Forest; and the eye is only arrested by the hills 
forming the sky-line. Standing on the southern side 
of the Terrace Garden, scarcely a house is to be seen, 
except on the extreme left where one gets a glimpse 
of Windsor. The trees too are in their richest and 
freshest summer garb. It is truly a fitting place for 
a Royal residence. 
THE QUEEN’S FAVOURITE WALKS. 
The Thames winds about in many a graceful sweep, 
flowing almost close under the North Terrace, hidden 
by the trees, seen in the accompanying illustration ; 
and from thence strikes away in a devious direction, 
but, on the whole, trending in a south-easterly 
direction, at a little greater distance from the ancient 
river-cliff. The intervening space between the river 
and the high ground is thickly-wooded and traversed, 
in various directions and at different levels, by miles 
of secluded and cool, shady walks. Here the Queen 
delights to walk in her leisure moments, while hold¬ 
ing court at Windsor. 
Immediately under the Castle on the north side is 
a stone wall of great height, which drops down 
perpendicularly The visitor looks into the tops of 
trees and shrubs growing on the slopes, such as 
Beeches, Horse Chestnuts, Acacias (Robina), 
Cherries, Mountain Ash, Thorns, Yews, Philadel- 
phus, Holly Oaks, Lilacs, Laburnums, Birches, 
Walnut, Hickory, Paulownia, Koelreuteria, and 
others of a most interesting character, especially 
when in bloom. Here also we noted fine masses of 
Mistleto growing upon the Robinia. 
Descending from the Terrace GardeD, where we 
passed through a doorway in the wall, we passed 
along one of the principal walks on the slopes where 
the Queen is wont to take exercise and relaxation. 
Away down at the bottom of the slopes is a stream 
fed by the Thames in which it finally loses itself 
again. The surroundings make this ornamental 
stream appear quite natural. On the high bank 
upon the right, are some healthy specimens of 
Cedrus Deodara, 40 ft. to 50 ft. in height, and 
appearing quite at home notwithstanding the dry¬ 
ness of the situation. Pursuing this path we passed 
some rustic summer houses and round seats situated 
in secluded spots or on some bold headland or pro¬ 
montory, from whence beautiful glimpses of wood¬ 
land scenery can be obtained. Here the trees are of 
great size and age, yet luxuriant and vigorous. At 
length passing through a long, narrow archway or 
grotto, built of rough, black, chalk flints we 
suddenly emerged on the face of the cliff where there 
is a most interesting bit of rock garden. While pass¬ 
ing through this grotto we noted that the floor of it 
consisted of live chalk rock, denuded in places. 
ROCK GARDEN ON THE SLOPES. 
The beauty of this bit of gardening is its simplicity, 
wild and precipitous character, and natural appear¬ 
ance. Those emerging from the mouth of the flint- 
lined grotto above mentioned must turn abruptly to 
the right or left along the face of the cliff, for the 
straight path from the Castle here ends abruptly. 
The face of the cliff from top to bottom is covered 
with shrubs, flowers, grass, and other vegetation. 
Linaria Cymbalaria trails down the steep slopes 
with great freedom; and Sedums, Saxifragas, and 
other rock plants grow at their own sweet will. In 
the bottom of the hollow is a pool of clear water fed 
by a tiny stream, trickling down the face of the 
rocks. Vegetation around it is in full vigour, with a 
cool and inviting aspect. Hardy Ferns and Cotone- 
asters add to the effect. Wild flowers are allowed 
full sway, and Campanula glomerata, native to the 
soil, forms interesting tufts amongst the grass. Just 
beyond the rockery is a rustic summer house ; and 
on the banks by the wayside we noted Primroses in 
great abundance, which constituted the glory of the 
woodland banks in spring. 
Immediately beyond is an open glade with a 
beautiful cottage and garden on one side, where the 
Queen sometimes takes tea. The walls and pillars of 
the cottage are covered with climbing Roses and 
Wistaria sinensis. On the left is a piece of green 
sward surrounded by tall old trees, including giant 
specimens of Hickory (Carya amara), Sophora 
japonica and the Douglas Fir. Right ahead is a 
large tree known as Luther's Beech, supposed to 
have been brought, as a cutting or layer, from the 
original on the Continent where the eminent preacher 
was apprehended. A Hickory bears a huge bunch of 
Mistleto, springing from the bare^runk. Altogether 
this interesting parasite grows naturally upon nine 
species of trees in the policies of Windsor Castle. 
Just here is a frame ground completely hidden by 
a trim hedge. Two rows of the pits are heated with 
hot-water pipes and prove very serviceable during 
the crush of bedding stuff. From here we proceeded 
to the Royal Gardens at Frogmore, crossing a very 
old avenue on each side of which are giant specimens 
of the English Elm, which have existed since the 
time of Charles II., or such of them as have 
resisted the ravages of time. They are very effective 
in the landscape. The avenue extends from the 
Thames on the east towards Windsor on the west. 
Before reaching the gardens we passed along an 
avenue of healthy trees of Wellingtonia gigantea 
40 ft. to 50 ft. in height, and well furnished to the 
.ground. 
THE ROYAL GARDENS, FROGMORE. 
These gardens are very extensive and utilised to 
furnish the Royal household with fruits, flowers, and 
vegetables. There are two miles of brick walls 12 ft 
high, which will serve to give some idea of their 
extent as well as their well furnished character. 
Both sides of these walls are covered with fruit trees, 
or glasshouses are erected against some portions. 
There are, moreover, large areas outside of the walls. 
planted with vegetables or fruit trees. The gardens 
are situated about three quarters of a mile as the 
crow flies from Windsor Castle. 
The Plant Houses. — Of these we shall give but 
a brief survey, noting the nature of their contents 
generally. So great are the requirements for plants, 
flowers, and fruits, that there is practically a village 
of glasshouses, independently of pits for all sorts of 
subjects, including vegetables. The first house we 
entered was occupied with a collection of show and 
decorative Pelargoniums of a suitable size for 
decorative work, and in full bloom. The chief draw¬ 
back to these highly ornamental subjects is their bad 
carrying qualities. That defect cannot be attributed 
to Hydrangea hortensis of which there was more 
than half a houseful in full bloom. Amongst the 
plants was a batch of the useful white variety Dr. 
Hogg. Both forms were furnished with huge trusses 
as they always are here. They were intended 
largely for the Jubilee festivities at Buckingham 
Palace. On the opposite bench from the Hydrangeas 
was a splendid lot of the double white Pelargonium 
La Volonte Nationale alba. The first batch of 
Gloxinias was in full bloom, and amongst them 
some splendid named and other varieties could be 
picked out. Her Majesty is admitted to be the finest 
white variety in cultivation on account of the purity 
of the flowers, their great s,z and fine form. Some 
varieties were crimson, shading off to a rose margiD, 
and others crimson, with a white border to the seg¬ 
ments. Self and spotted sorts were well represented. 
Outside one of the houses in a cool, shady position 
was the finest batch of Schizanthus Grahami we 
have seen in pots. The plants were of good average 
height, though not nearly so tall as they are some¬ 
times grown here, sturdy and profusely flowered. 
The flowers are of a rich carmine, with a large 
orange blotch on each of the upper segments. 
Equally handsome was a white variety, having the 
two customary orange blotches. The pots used 
were 24-size. Could gardeners, generally, see such a 
sight, they could hardly help becoming imitators in 
cultivating this showy annual. A fine plantation of 
East Lothian Stocks, hard by, was just commencing 
to bloom. The flowers are intended for cutting. 
The new Palm House is a tall structure, hand¬ 
somely fitted with all modern appliances, and filled 
with large, well-grown Palms of the most approved 
kinds for furnishing and general decorative purposes 
for which they are held in great requisition while the 
Court is at Windsor. Kentias, Arecas and Cocos 
flexuosa are prominent occupants of the house. On 
either side of the central pathway is a row of tall, 
broad-leaved Bananas which give a tropical effect to 
the whole. They are planted out in the beds. 
Scarcely less prominent is Cobaea scandens, trained 
to the roof, from which long, rampant and flowering 
shoots are suspended everywhere, like lianes in a 
tropical forest. These Cobaeas have been planted 
temporarily to cover the roof until choicer things, 
including Allamandas shall have grown sufficiently 
to take their place. 
The conservatory stands at right angles to the 
Palm house, and is kept at a much lower tempera¬ 
ture. Tall Camellias are a prominent feature of the 
permanent occupiers of the house. Palms also find 
a place ; and flowering plants of all kinds that may 
be in season and keeping with the heating of the 
house occupy the side stages. Dasylirion acrotrichum 
finds a place here. In a short corridor leading off 
from the conservatory is a fine collection of the 
newest and best of the large flowering type of 
Cannas ; and very showy they are. Some are scar¬ 
let, crimson or yellow ; others yellow, richly spotted 
with scarlet, or yellow with one or two red petals in 
the centre, making them very distinct and handsome. 
A large, climbing Niphetos Rose covers the roof. 
A stove we passed through contained many useful^ 
flowering subjects, such as Anthurium scherzerianum, 
Tuberoses, Gardenias, Stephanotis, Laelia pur- 
purata, and the profusely flowering Oncidium 
sphacelatum. In another compartment of the same 
house was a very fine variety of Stephanotis flori- 
bunda, flowering profusely along the roof, and filling 
the house with a rich and fragrant aroma. Various 
Begonias, including fine hybrid forms of B. incarnata 
atropurpurea, and Vanda teres in bloom, together 
with other useful decorative subjects find a place 
here. Caladiums, however, in quantity and variety, 
constitute the leading feature of the house. Crotons 
of many sorts and in all sizes fill another house and 
are much used for decorative purposes. Interesting 
