10  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  July  6, 189& 
11,  E.  lit e,  thoiO'3rapl.e  » 
tunninghill  Vilicif  : 
Fig.  3.— WATER  AND  WOOD  AT  SUNNINGDALE  PARK. 
splendid  trees.  Near  the  mansion  on  the  right  what  was  formerly  a 
bank  of  Heather  has  been  re-made  and  planted  with  beds  of  choice 
Rhododendrons,  Azaleas,  Kalmias,  and  other  plants,  and  the  improvement 
is  very  marked,  though  its  full  beauty  will  not  be  seen  until  the  stock 
has  got  a  thorough  hold  of  the  soil.  The  position  is  very  dry,  as  the 
bank  slopes  abruptly  towards  the  south,  but  assiduous  attention  is  com¬ 
pelling  the  plants  to  make  satisfactory  progress.  A  few  beds  are 
occupied  with  the  orthodox  bedding  plants,  but  this  phase  of  gardening  is 
not  in  very  high  favour,  and  is  therefore  not  largely  adopted.  The  large 
vases  on  the  terrace  of  the  mansion  have  richly  coloured  Zonal  Pelar¬ 
goniums  placed  in  them,  and  they,  showing  well  from  a  distance,  are  very 
effective,  but  large  specimens  have  to  be  employed  so  as  to  give  an 
immediate  return  in  the  form  of  flowers. 
Still  continuing  among  the  flowers  we  must  now  refer  to  the  splendid 
herbaceous  borders,  the  broad  belts  of  Spanish  Irises,  and  the  long  lengths 
of  Poet’s  Narcissi,  all  of  which  play  a  handsome  part  in  providing  the 
enormous  number  of  flowers  which  Mrs.  Joicey,  who  is  an  ardent  flori- 
large  span-roofed  structure  was  almost  filled  with  them,  and  their  clean-, 
healthy  growths  and  superb  spikes  of  flowers  proved  how  thoroughly 
their  requirements  were  understood.  Of  this  particular  Orchid  I  have 
never  seen  a  better  show,  and  Major  and  Mrs.  Joicey  may  well  be  proud 
of  the  collection.  Apart  from  these,  a  plant  of  Luddemanniana  Leemanni 
in  a  10-inch  basket  was  carrying  six  spikes,  on  one  of  which  there  were 
over  half  a  hundred  flowers,  attracted  much  attention.  It  found  its  way  to 
the  Temple  Show,  and  received  a  cultural  commendation  from  a  critical 
committee  of  experts.  Then,  too,  there  were  Dendrobiums  formosum. 
giganteum,  and  Johnsoniae  ;  Auguloas  Clowesi,  uniflora  Turneri.  and 
Ruekeri  sanguinea  ;  Cypripediums,  Odontoglossums,  Masdevallias,  Coch- 
lioda  Noezliana,  and  Lielia  purpurata,  with  others  in  flower,  not  to 
mention  scores,  or  rather  hundreds,  that  have  passed  away  for  the  season, 
or  those  that  have  not  yet  contributed  to  the  year’s  display. 
The  excellence  that  prevails  over  the  pleasure  grounds  and  floral 
i  portions  of  the  estate  is  equalled  in  the  departments  both  outdoors  and 
i  under  glass  that  are  devoted  to  the  production  of  fruits  and  vegetables. 
the  collection  is  so  varied,  and  has  been  so  carefully  selected,  that  they 
produce  a  very  brilliant  effect  that  is  always  admired.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  flowering  shrubs  and  trees  are  numerous,  and  it  would  not  be  possible 
to  name  all  of  them.  They  have  been  employed  freely  in  some  positions 
and  sparingly  in  others,  the  planting  having  been  wholly  governed  by  the 
immediate  surroundings.  The  Japanese  Maples,  too,  have  been  employed 
in  a  somewhat  similar  manner,  and  with  telling  effect.  Many  ot  the  trees 
are  splendid  specimens,  but  some  of  the  best  are  buried  in  belts,  where  it 
is  scarcely  possible  for  their  full  beauty  to  be  seen.  So  far  as  possible 
Mr.  Thorne  is  opening  out  the  individuals  to  give  room  for  proper  expan¬ 
sion,  as  well  as  to  allow  their  proportions  to  be  recognised  ;  but  an  under¬ 
taking  such  as  this  is  no  light  one,  and  must  therefore  be  carried  out  with 
judicious  care,  so  that  in  looking  to  future  improvements  the  present  effect 
may  not  be  seriously  marred.  _ 
The  lawn  lies  on  the  right  of  fig.  4,  and  extends  from  the  mansion 
down  to  the  gardens.  It  is  a  beautiful  expanse  of  turf  flanked  by  some 
culturist,  so  delights  to  have.  Then,  within  doors,  there  is  further  wealth 
of  blossom  amongst  the  Hydrangeas  in  48-pots,  with  heads  about  18  inches 
across  ;  the  many-tailed  Acalypa  hispida  (Sanderi),  the  bright  and 
iragrant  Carnation  Mrs.  Joicey,  the  chaste  white  Lilies,  the  stately 
Arums,  the  useful  Ixoras,  the  leathery  Celosias,  besides  scores  of  others 
that  come  to  the  zenith  of  their  beauty  in  the  garden,  do  good  service 
in  the  mansion,  whence  the  major  portion  passes  direct  to  the  rubbish 
heap.  It  is  the  same  with  the  various  foliage  plants.  They  are  quickly 
grown,  and  are  then  discarded,  as  Mr.  Thorne  does  not  require  large 
specimens,  but  numbers  of  small  stock,  which  the  convenience  at  com¬ 
mand  would  render  it  exceedingly  difficult  to  carry  over  from  year  to 
year.  In  all  the  Crotons,  Coleuses;  and  Caladiums,  Acalypha  Macfeeiana, 
aud  others,  the  intensity  of  colouration  secured  is  quite  remarkable. 
But  what  of  the  Orchids  ?  someone  may  ask.  Well,  they  arel  grand, 
and  to  the  Miltonia  vexillaria  in  variety  must  be  given  the  place  of 
honour  for  richness  of  display  when  this  visit  was  paid.  One  section  oi  a 
