212 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
March  10,  1898. 
will  be  seen  passing  down  the  centre  of  the  terrace,  while  beyond 
the  Emperor  may  be  observed  talking  with  the  chief  of  the  German 
Legation.  His  Imperial  Majesty  may  be  distingnished  from  the  fact  that 
he  is  the  only  person  represented  who  has  had  recourse  to  the  homely 
“  bowler  ”  hat.  Descending  the  steps  from  the  mansion  is  the  Marquis  of 
Salisbury,  who  is  entertaining  the  Royal  visitors  and  others  at  a  garden 
party.  This  illustration  may  well  be  examined  a  second  time,  for  on  the 
right  can  be  seen  the  famous  avenue  of  which  we  have  spoken  as^  having 
been  planted  by  Tradescant  the  Elder.  Thus  the  ])hotograph  is  historical 
in  more  respects  than  one. 
Not  that  these  are  the  only  Royalties  who  have  honoured  Hatfield. 
On  the  contrary,  all  who  have  visited  England  seem  to  have  made  a  point 
of  going  there.  Her  Majesty  has  l»een  twice  ;  once,  as  noted,  with  the 
Prince  Consort  in  1844,  and  again  during  the  Jubilee  year  (1887)  of  her 
reign.  The  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales  have  frequently  honoured 
Photo  hy  hlsuend;  aon,  Birtford 
Flu.  3i3.— Me.  Geo.  Noeman. 
Hatfield  by  their  presence,  as  have  other  members  of  our  Royal  family. 
Then,  too,  the  Shah  ol  Persia  was  a  guest,  as  were  the  Prince  of  Naples, 
and  last,  but  not  least,  Li  Hung  Chang  so  recently  as  1896.  It  was  then 
that  a  daily  contemporary  said,  “Li  Hung  Chang  may  well  describe  his 
visit  to  his  fellow  countrymen  on  his  return  in  the  words  of  an  old  author 
as  to  Sir  Robert  Cecil’s  entertainment  of  King  James  I.  and  King 
Christian  of  Denmark  in  1606,  for  Hatfield  traditions  of  hospitality  know 
no  change.”  The  passage  referred  to  runs  ; — “  Upon  this  occasion  there 
wanted  no  means  either  of  device,  pleasure,  entertaynement,  feasting,  or 
what  else  might  glut  the  heart  with  contentment  but  was  there  with  the 
most  liberal  hand  and  willing  heart  and  contented  spirit  poured  forth. 
No  man  was  reprehended  for  giving,  but  many  for  not  taking.” 
Before  the  principal  entrance  on  the  south  front  of  the  mansion  is  a 
somewhat  extensive  flower  garden  laid  out  in  geometrical  design,  and  in 
which  the  beds  have  all  stone  edgings.  Many  of  these  are  of  considerable 
size,  and  for  the  winter  are  occupied  by  small  evergreens  with  bulbs 
between  for  a  spring  display,  to  be  followed  later  by  thousands  of  summer 
flowering  plants  ;  but  these  will  not  take  their  places  yet  for  some  time 
to  come.  There  is,  too,  in  this,  as  well  as  in  each  of  the  other  gardens, 
a  considerable  proportion  of  grass,  all  of  which  is  kept  neatly  mown 
throughout  the  summer  months.  Extending  from  the  southern  entrance 
for  a  considerable  distance  is  a  grass  drive,  flanked  by  rows  of  trees 
which  have  a  magnificent  effect  during  the  spring,  summer,  and  autumn 
months.  From  the  main  door  this  gives  a  grand  view  to  the  woods 
beyond.  On  this  side  of  the  house  Roses,  Magnolias,  and  other  climbers 
ramble,  one  specimen  of  Magnolia  conspicua  being  superb.  Its  branches 
extend  to  a  great  height,  and  are  roped  with  thousands  of  buds  and  a  few 
already  expanded  flowers.  _ 
On  the  western  side  of  the  house  there  are  several  of  these  enclosed 
gardens,  comprising  mainly  herbaceous  plants,  though  Roses  have  a 
division  to  themselves.  Two  of  these  gardens  are  noteworthy — one  from 
the  style  of  planting,  and  the  other  from  the  time  of  formation.  The 
first  is  a  creation  of  Mr.  Norman’s,  and  is  laid  out  in  beds  full  of 
herbaceous  perennials.  In  the  centre  is  a  large  basin  and  fountain,  to  the 
edge  of  which  the  grass  reaches.  The  sections  of  the  garden  all  converge 
towards  this  central  fountain,  and  each  bed  in  every  section  is  planted 
with  one  colour  only.  Thus  there  are  blue,  red,  white,  yellow,  pink, 
rose,  and  purple  beds,  planted  so  as  to  form  contrasts,  and  producing  an 
effect  that  is  quite  unique.  The  second  garden  is  of  much  earlier  date, 
for  it  was  formed  during  the  time  of  King  James  I.  Round  the  out¬ 
side  of  it — the  centre  is  grass,  and  beds,  as  in  the  cases  named — runs  an 
arcade  that  has  been  formed  of  Limes,  w  hile  at  each  corner  is  a  Mulberry 
tree  that  was  planted  at  the  same  time.  It  is  probable  that  the  making  of 
this  garden  was  contemporaneous  with  the  planting  of  the  great  avenue, 
and  would  therefore  be  done  by  Tradescant.  The  canopy  of  green 
makes  a  cool  walk  during  the  hottest  summer  day. 
Running  parallel  with  the  western  terrace  is  a  broad  asphalt  promenade 
divided  from  the  fields  by  a  splendid  Holly  hedge.  This  is  about  5  feet 
in  height,  and  several  feet  in  thickness,  and  throughout  the  whole  length 
of  upwards  of  100  yards  not  a  single  weak  place  could  be  found.  To 
the  right  as  one  stands  on  this  terrace  facing  the  town  of  Hatfield  is  the 
church,  which  w'as  restored  by  the  Marquis  about  twenty-five  years  ago. 
It  is  a  noble  edifice  which,  standing  high,  can  easily  be  seen  from  the 
railway  that  runs  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  The  old  palace,  tennis  court, 
and  gate  house,  to  which  attention  has  already  been  called,  are  also  very 
close  to  the  church  and  promenade,  while  to  the  left  are  the  kitchen  and 
fruit  gardens,  together  with  the  hothouses,  and  to  these  we  will  now  wend 
our  way.  Many  are  the  splendid  trees  beneath  which  we  have  to  pass 
in  variety  that  is  well  nigh  endless,  and  of  a  beauty  that  we  shall  not 
attempt  to  describe.  From  the  old  and  interesting  we  turn,  reluctantly 
perhaps,  to  the  new,  interesting,  but  none  the  less,  utilitarian  department. 
The  mention  of  the  church  reminds  of  another  jotting  of  Pepys  in  his 
famous  diary,  August  11th,  1667  : — “And  so  to  Hatfield,  to  the  inn,  near 
my  Lord  Salisbury’s  house,  and  there  rested  ourselves,  and  drank,  and 
bespoke  dinner  ;  and  so  to  church.  In  this  church  lies  the  former  Lord 
of  Salisbury  (Cecil),  buried  in  a  noble  tomb.  Then  we  to  our  inn,  and 
there  dined  very  well,  and  mighty  merry  ;  and  walked  out  into  the  park 
through  the  fine  walk  of  trees,  and  to  the  vineyard,  and  there  shewed 
them  that  which  is  in  good  order,  and  indeed  a  place  of  great  delight  ; 
which,  together  with  our  fine  walk  through  the  park,  was  of  as  much 
pleasure  as  could  be  desired  in  the  world  for  country  pleasure  and  good 
ayre.  Being  come  back,  and  weary  with  the  walk,  the  women  had  pleasure 
in  putting  on  some  straw  hats,  which  are  much  worn  in  this  country,  and 
did  become  them  mightily,  but  especially  my  wife.” 
It  is  only  natural  where  such  a  large  establishment  as  the  one  of 
Hatfield  is  maintained  that  the  supplies  of  vegetables,  fruits,  and  flowers 
of  all  kinds  are  enormous.  For  example,  the  kitchen  garden  department 
has  already  sent  to  the  mansion  since  the  new  year  15,000  heads  of 
Asparagus,  and  all  other  kinds  are  in  proportionate  demand.  The  new 
vegetable  and  fruit  garden  was  formed  just  prior  to  the  time  of  giving  up 
the  one  in  the  vineyard,  and  comprises  about  7  acres  within  the  walls 
and  some  4  or  5  acres  round  the  outside.  Thus  there  is  not  too  much 
room  for  the  quantities  of  fruit  and  vegetables  that  are  required,  and  the 
closest  system  of  cropping  has  perforce  to  be  adopted.  The  soil  does  not 
look  at  all  “  kind,”  but  we  were  assured  by  Mr.  Norman  that  with  good 
working  and  plenty  of  manure  all  kinds  of  vegetables  could  be  produced 
of  excellent  quality.  There  are  immense  quarter.!  devoted  to  Asparagus 
and  Celery,  while  Peas  in  about  half  a  mile  of  rows  are  well  above 
ground.  All  the  green  vegetables  with  the  valuable  root  crops  are  largely 
cultivated,  as  are  the  various  saladings.  Tomatoes  and  Cucumbers  in  the 
houses  look  remarkably  well,  and  the  latter  have  just  reached  the  fruiting 
stage.  The  Asparagus  roots  are  lifted  successionally,  and  are  forced  in 
the  beds  of  a  couple  of  houses.  Young  Carrots  in  the  frames  are  looking 
well,  and  the  sweet,  tender  roots  will  be  very  acceptable.  The  walls  that 
surround  the  kitchen  garden  are  all  built  of  concrete,  and  are  not  there¬ 
fore  likely  to  perish.  Of  course,  it  being  impossible  to  drive  nails  into 
the  walls,  they  have  all  had  to  be  wired,  and  there  is  now  growing  on 
them  as  fine  a  collection  of  fruit  trees  as  anyone  could  wish  to  see. 
They  are  clean  and  healthy,  having  no  signs  of  insect  pests,  and  we  can 
readily  accept  our  guide’s  assurance  that  they  produce  grand  crops  of 
fruit.  Mr.  Norman  is  very  emphatic  in  his  praises  of  the  wired  walls, 
considering  them  in  all  respects  preferable  to  those  that  necessitate  the 
use  of  nails  and  shreds.  Besides  these  trained  trees  there  are  others  on 
the  stables  and  the  tennis  court,  while  in  the  open  there  are  large  numbers 
of  Apples  and  Pears,  as  well  as  Plums,  Damsons,  bush  fruit.s,  and  Straw¬ 
berries.  All  look  well,  and  show  evidence  of  skilful  attention  to  (heir 
requirements. 
