Novinaen 1, 1992 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
gardening stands upon the crest of Monte- 
fiore Hill, overlooking southward across the 
Torrens Valley at the foot to the city be- 
yond. In this valley is a mass of forest 
growth stretching as far as the eye can reach 
to the east, with the Mount Lofty Ranges in 
the background. Looking westward the 
foreground of the valley is of forest-trees, 
with a glimpse of the Torrens Lake, and - 
beyond .is the industrious, manufacturing 
town of Hindmarsh. Beyond the smoke 
- and game of towering chimneys is the coast- 
line of St. Vincent’s Gulf, carrying the ships 
of merchandise to lands beyond the seas. 
Surrounded by such stretches of views we 
have an ideal spot for a city gentleman’s 
residence. 
Now to particularise upon the garden. 
Beginning“at the entrance gates, the first item 
of detail that catches the observant eye is the 
tiling around the garden edging. This is a 
particular that too frequently escapes the at- 
tention of those whose business it is to lay out 
a garden. Neat tiling is a rarity. And yet 
few things give a more ragged effect to a plot 
of garden than bad tiling. However weéll- 
kept and beautiful a lawn may be it is in- 
variably spoiled by tiles that have a jagged 
and unkempt line. Here we were pleased to 
note that the tiles were laid perfectly. "We 
have never seen them better, and they add 
very materially to the appearance of every- 
thing else. The same remark applies fo 
every other feature of the garden, notwith-. 
standing that there does not appear to be any 
special effort at designing the planting of 
annuals. This lack of effort and yet general 
effect is an illustration of the old proverb 
ars est celare artem. This absence of forma- 
lity is refreshing after visiting so many. gar- 
dens where the designs are so. apparent, and 
although pretty and decidedly effective. “= 
Looking to the right from the entrance 
gate is a beautiful lawn of buffalo and Kén- 
jucky bluegrass,‘which are knitted well to- 
gether. The lawn is broken up by garden 
plots, shrubs, and trees. These are all made 
accessible by a winding grass walk. Here we 
note Palms of various orders of magnificent 
growth and stately heights, and Bamboos, 
Yuccas, Cordylines, climbing Roses, Myrtle, 
a fine specimen of Prunus Pissardi, with its 
rich bronze foliage, and the quivering scintil- 
lating leaves of the Sterculia, also Hibiscus 
grandiflora, two fine specimens of Auralias, 
agiant Opuntia, the native forest ti-tree, a 
Dasylirion, and a Bird of Paradise ffower 
(Strelitzia). Crowning the whole general 
effect of this collection are two giant Eryth- 
rinas (corral tree) with their masses of red 
blooms, giving a gorgeous display. To mass 
together such a collection of trees, shrubs, 
and plants with anything like the effect here 
produced is the work of a masterhand, and 
this is apparent from every view taken of it. 
From whatever point taken the effect 
is distinctive and good. The variation of 
foliage and colouring is always striking and 
pleasing. Not a foot of space is wasted. 
Annuals and perennials are all there to give 
the necessary colouring of boldness or in 
tinting as required. No opportunity for ac- 
celerating natural effect is wanting. The 
trunk of one giant Palm is trailed with the 
graceful Asparagas fern, while another ‘is 
massed around with a luxuriant growth of 
Cactus Cereus Speciosissium, upon which 
the deft hand of the gardener has grafted 
Epiphyllum truncatum. The effect of this 
is delightful. The great white blooms of the 
night flowering variety give a splendid show 
with the crimson blossoms of the other. This 
happy idea is the pérfection of simplicity and 
a great attraction to visitors at ‘‘ Montefiore.” 
While moving about on this lawn one is 
struck with its soft springy character. It is a 
mixture of English grasses, the matted 
fibrous roots of which will stand almost any- 
thing, and keep green all the year round. 
Approaching the house we note a Wistaria, 
and under the shade of the wall a lovely lot 
of yellow Carnations, which unfortunately 
are nameless, and an edging of deep rich 
blue perpetual Lobelia. From the steps 
leading up to the front door a view of the 
drive is obtained to the gate, the right hand 
side of which is a mass of full-grown trees 
of various kinds setin a bed of couch grass 
and small beddings of annuals, the old Eng- 
lish cottage garden varieties predominating 
for choice. 
Walking from the house towards the gate, 
a halt of a few minutes is taken to look at 
the view across the lawn in front of the 
house. The centre is taken up with a foun- 
tain, round about which are grouped a 
variety of palms, cycads, and dracaenas. 
Peeping out here and there are the flower 
borderings and the rose bed, backed up by 
a unique trellis, which we shall presently 
describe. This is a charming little landscape 
view, with the foreign and native birds 
moving about, unconsciously adding to its 
picturesque life and beauty. 
Turning from the drive on to the winding 
pathway leading westward, we pass througha 
little wicket gate and under an archway of 
roses. This is called the ‘bamboo walk,” a 
variety of the canes being in evidence in the 
borders, where also we note Polyanthus, 
Primroses, Aquilegias, Geraniums, Pelar- 
goniums (a nice assortment of regal varie- 
ties), and other familiar but well-selected 
choice of flowers. Special attention is 
arrested by a Glorie de Dijon, trained in a 
‘way not commonly seen, but very effective. 
The old sprays are bent-trained in graceful 
curves, instead of being pruned short back. 
The effect of this is to give a greater pro- 
fusion of blooms for a longer period. ‘Turn- 
ing round on this path, and facing towards 
the east, the visitor gets yet another view of 
the eastern lawn quite different from the two 
already described, notwithstanding that the 
palms, trees, bushes, and plants are of course 
the same. Turning again and proceeding 
along the walk, noting the borders, we come 
to a path at right angles leading to the 
fountain on the lawn facing the house, and 
from here again we get another glimpse of 
the eastern section of the grounds, with the 
giant growth of cordylines, coral tree, and 
palms breaking up the skyline, under which, 
and away in the near distance below, figure 
the rising towers of the Cathedral. Pro- 
ceeding across the.lawn, an inspection of 
the bordering under the windows of. the 
house discloses a number of old favourite 
flowers, conspicuous among them being a 
fine specimen of Dracaena Draco (dragon 
tree), the growth showing that the pseudonym 
is very appropriate. Here, too, is seen an 
illustration of how standard roses can be 
artistically trained upon rustic stakes into 
- circumstances. 
5 
pillars of beauty. Also a demonstration 
that most things can be done with roses 
when you know how. Here are a number 
of standard roses, full of many years of 
growth, looking well and strong, which were 
transplanted in February. To talk about 
transplanting roses in February would awaken 
the derision of most fanciers in the business 
of rose-growing ; but a pennyworth of prac- 
tical demonstration is worth a great deal of 
conservative ignorance. Here we note 
another little touch of art in the planting of 
a Leycesteria formosa, of Himalayan habitat. 
But for this the aspect would look flat. 
Turning again to view the lawn, we note the 
fine specimens of Diplothemium maritinum, 
regarded by many as the very best of the 
palms, Chamerops, Cycas revoluta, and 
others of merit. Hard by the fountain, and 
standing on a corner of the flower bed, is 
conspicuous amongst other shrubs a Rhyn- 
cospermum jasminoides of excellent growth 
and in full bloom. An archway of roses 
leads on. to the bamboo walk again, from 
which elevation a view or the city is obtained. 
A numbor of old trees have been rooted out 
of the border here, and choice shrubs 
planted, amongst which we note Weigela 
Amabilis; W. Lemoine, and W. Rosea, 
several Bouvardias, Carpentaria Californica 
Acacia cultriformis, Hisbiscus cyracuse alba 
plena, golden fleece Abutillon, Prunus pis- 
sardi,-double flowering peaches, and others. 
A rare and choice collection. Passing along 
the walk, and looking across a continuation 
of the spacious lawn, the eye takes in a 
circular bed of roses, and beyond a fine 
native tree of a weeping habit of growth 
30 feet in height, evidently of the Pitto. 
sporum order: Here also a splendid bush of 
the old English golden yew. This view 
has the greenhouse and fernery to back it up. 
Running over the roof of the fernery is a 
mass of Tropzeolum tricolorum in full bloom. 
This beautiful creeper is growing with the 
rankness of a weed, and not appreciated 
here as itis in England, where a guinea a 
bulb is demanded for it. 
Méandering again to the end of the bamboo 
walk, we enter the latest innovation at 
“Montefiore.” Mr. Cole speaks of this as a 
“pergola.” In reality it is a long trellis 
walk. The design, however, has nothing in - 
common with the ordinary garden variety of 
agriculture, It is adapted from the latest 
introductions to English gardens, the idea 
having come from the old monasteries 
wherein the peripatetic priesthood take 
their daily round of subjective thought and 
gain their didactic learning. But instead of 
huge carved pillars supporting rustic beams 
whereon the delicate tendrils love to ty 
Mr. Cole has had to adapt his sisi 
The uprights of the eae 
ture are double posts 10 feet high, 2 feet 
apart, with 4-inch mesh of wire netting to 
support the creepers. The uprightscarry cross- 
beams 2 feet apart. Each post is 9 feet 
apart for a length of 30 yards, and 12 feet 
wide.. The structure is simple in the ex- 
treme, but very effective, and when interlaced 
with all the beauties of the choicest climbers 
now beginning to throw up their tender 
shoots the effect will be a delight of colour 
and gracefulness, completely hiding the now 
somewhat gaunt looking timber. — At the 
end of this “pergola” is a rockery of fan- 
