Supplement  to 
29) 
JOURNAL 
OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE 
GARDENER, 
March.  16,  1900. 
Hfctle'of  the  beautiful  but  much  of  the  useful  ia  their  construction.  An 
admirable  view  of  this  garden  with  the  mansion  in  the  background  is 
afforded  by'the)[illustration  (fig.  61).  It  will  be  at  once  observed  that 
as  in  the  case  of  the  previously  mentioned  Fountains  Garden,  this  is 
sunk,  and  entrance  is  made  by  broad  stone  steps.  The  design  adopted 
in  the  laying  out  of, beds  is  decidedly  elaborate,  and  as  the  beds  are  of 
considerable  extent,  the  number  of  plants  required  to  efficiently  stock 
them  is  enormous.  Though  termed  the  Italian  garden,  doubtless  from 
its  shape  and  the  inclusion  of  statuary,  it  has  in  the  Box  edgings  to  the 
beds  and,  scrolls  something  of  the  Dutch  character.  These  are  several 
inches  high  and  wide,  and  have  an  old  world  look  beside  the  known  age 
of  the  mansion.  One  can  with  difficulty  picture  in  the  mind  the  charm  of 
this  garden,  'and  I  for  one  shall  live  in  the  hope  that  I  may  see  it  and 
its  neighbourhood  at  the  zenith  of  their  beauty  at  some  future  time. 
But  we  must  press  on,  as  there  is  still  much  remaining  to  which 
reference  must  be  made,  and  even  (hen  justice  will  scarcely  be  done 
to  the  varied  glories  of 
Mentmore. 
of  course,  necessary  to 
adhere  rigidly  in  stocking  it  to  plants  that  will  assist  iu  maintaining  the 
name  as  correct.  In  the  shady  nooks  between  stately  Conifers  may  be 
found  ideal  spots  for  a  handsome  Palm  or  a  noble  Dracasna,  while  for 
the  beds  cut  out  of  the  soft  green  turf  we  have  the  Cannas,  the  Ricinus, 
the  Wigandias,  and  many  others  that  will  suggest  themselves  to  the 
practised  mind.  The  illustration  (fig.  58)  depicts  a  single  curve  in 
the  subtropical  garden  at  Mentmore,  and  though  one  may  readily 
gather  that  it  is  a  place  of  beauty  and  interest,  the  pictu'e  fails  to  do 
real  justice  to  its  undoubted  charms.  Even  on  that  cold  and  frosty 
morning  in  February  it  was  singularly  beautiful,  though  its  attractive¬ 
ness  was  lent  by  the  frost-laden  trees,  apd  not  the  pure  and  simple 
subtropical  plants.  At  one  of  the  entrances  to  this  garden,  and  at 
intervals  within  its  confines,  may  be  seen  numbers  of  Bamboos,  which 
thrive  remarkably.  Considering  the  truly  perpetual  handsomeness  of 
well  grown  specimens,  it  is  to  me  a  matter  for  constant  surprise  that 
Bamboos  are  not  employed  far  more  extensively  than  ia  the  case  at 
present.  They  are,  however,  growing  steadily  in  favour,  and  will 
eventually  be  seen  with  pleasing  frequency. 
The  Rose  Gardens. 
Though  the  enthusiastic  rosarian  growing  for  exhibition  produces 
blooms  of  surpassing  magnificence,  there  is  no  place  in  which  Roses 
are  grown  where  they  appear  more  at  home,  and  receive  more  general 
admiration,  than  in  the  Rose  garden.  This,  of  course,  is  provided  the 
enclosed  has  been  judiciously  chosen  and  skilfully  planted.  It  must 
have  a  situation  that,  while  it  is  to  a  degree  protected,  has  unobstructed 
light,  and  where  the  probability  of  the  greedy  roots  of  forest  or  other 
trees  penetrating  the  garden  and  robbing  the  legitimate  occupants  of 
nourishment  is  reduced  to  a  minimum.  There  must  further  have 
been  the  presence  of  a  master  hand  or  mind  in  its  formation,  as  an 
over-intricate  design,  or  even  too  much  rustic  work,  might  easily  rob 
the  whole  of  beauty.  I  have  in  mind  a  Rose  garden  admirably  chosen 
as  to  site,  and  skilfully  laid  out,  that  is  spoiled  by  the  over-prodigal 
use  of  youug  Pines  to  form  rustic  arches  for  the  climbing  Roses.  True 
this  particular  garden  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  the  softening  hand  of 
time  will  do  much  to  tone  down  the  naked  obtrusiveness  of  those  pillars 
and  arches. 
Needless  to  say,  in  forming  the  garden  at  Mentmore  everything 
that  care,  skill  and  deep  knowledge  could  do  to  insure  success  was 
done,  and  with  the  happiest  results.  This  is  another  feature  that  must 
be  seen  in  the  summer  to  appreciate  its  worth.  Bub  one  Rose  garden  is 
apparently  insufficient  to 
meet  all  the  requirements 
*of  the  estate,  and  con¬ 
sequently  a  second  is  in 
course  of  formation  at 
the  present  time.  This  is 
being  especially  prepared 
for  the  accommodation  of 
4000  French  Roses,  and 
the  garden  to  be  in  keep¬ 
ing  with  the  varieties  in 
it  will  be  laid  out  in  the 
French  style.  An  ex¬ 
cellent  position  has  been 
selected  with  a  very  gentle 
slope,  and  after  the  work 
of  levelling  is  completed 
the  beds  will  be  formed 
with  interspaces  of  grass. 
At  the  foot  of  the  garden 
a  belt  of  shrubs  is  being 
planted,  and  down  each 
side  there  will  be  a  broad 
border  for  herbaceous 
plants.  The  whole  "nil 
be  finished  this  spring, 
and  in  a  season  or  two 
will  have  to  be  reckoned 
amongst  the  many  varied 
charms  of  the  estate. 
As  has  been  the  case  witli 
the  almost  numberless 
other  improvements,  the 
planning  and  arrange¬ 
ment  of  this  have  ema¬ 
nated  from  the  mind  cf  Mr.  Smith,  and  are  being  adopted  with  the 
entire  approbation  of  tie  noble  employer.  The  formal  design  in  this 
garden  will  be  in  direct  contrast  to  the  freer  English  style. 
The  Aviary  and  Hardy  Fernery. 
In  immediate  contiguity  to  both  these  gardens  are  a  large  aviary 
and  a  hardy  fernery.  We  had  a  brief  glance  into  the  former,  and  saw 
many  birds  of  strange  form,  and  in  some  cases  brilliant  plumage.  They 
have  a  commodious,  and,  apparently,  congenial  dwelling  place  amidst 
the  trees,  and  no  doubt  many  visitors  wend  their  way  to  this  spot  to  see 
these  denizens  of  other  lands  that  have  become  acclimatised  to  our  own 
fair  country,  iu  the  hardy  fernery  there  was  nothing  to  be  seen  save  the 
snow,  with  here  and  there  a  brown  frond  lying  ragged  and  exposed.  It 
is  thus  not  possible  to  gi^e  any  particulars  of  its  formation  from  my 
own  experience,  bu  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  reprint  a  brief  descrip¬ 
tion  that  was  furruahed  to  the  Journal  of  Horticulture  many  years  ago. 
The  writer  there  says Proceeding  we  pass  a  hardy  fernery 
I'leasingly  formed  in  a  nook  in  the  woods,  the  very  place  in  which 
b'erns  delight.  It  is  siirpiiaing  what  can  ba  done  with  a  few  loads  of 
soil  and  stones  thrown  up  under  trees  in  a  series  of  irregular  mounds 
with  curving  paohs  b^twean,  when  taste  and  good  judgment  are 
exercised  in  the  arrangemmt.  Here  the  Ferns  have  been  planted  in 
groups  of  species  and  varbties,  not  the  whole  regularly  dotted  and 
mixed  in  a  weak  diluted  mainer  that  should  never  be  seen  in  ferneries 
of  this  nature.” 
The  Subtropical  Garden. 
The  pleasure  grounds 
or  gardens  of  Mentmore 
are  literally  crowded  with 
features  of  interest  and 
beauty,  and  amongst  them 
must  be  classed  the  sub¬ 
tropical  garden.  This,  as 
is  the  case  with  the  flower 
gardens,  is  essentially  a 
feature  of  the  summer, 
but  for  the  winter  one 
might  well  change  the 
name  to  pinetum,  as  it  ia 
rich  in  shapely  handsome 
fi’ees  of  many  choice 
kinds.  As  an  addition  to 
the  pleasure  grounds  in 
the  summer  the  sub¬ 
tropical  section  ought 
never  to  be  omitted,  as 
from  its  position  and  the 
type  of  plants  one  should 
use  therein,  it  affords  a 
cool  retreat  that  is  entirely 
different  in  its  essential 
characteristics  from  every 
other  part  of  the  garden. 
No  portion  will,  as  a  rule, 
be  more  appreciated  or 
more  admired,  but  it  is. 
Photo  ly  Theo  Piggott,  Ltighbn  Buzzard. 
Fig.  60. — Mentmore  :  Old  Manor. 
