54 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AH D  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  i6,  1896. 
WINTER  DECORATIONS  IN  THE  OLDEN  TIME. 
No  doubt  our  Saxon  and  Norman  ancestors  were  somewhat 
uncultured,  the  refinement  left  by  the  Romans  gradually  dropped 
out,  bat  probably  they  were  not  totally  destitute  of  aesthetic  tastes. 
We  have  indications  that  they  admired  what  was  beautiful  in 
Nature  and  Art ;  and,  indeed,  some  of  their  performances  with  pen 
or  graving  tool  are  scarcely  equalled  by  later  artists.  Had  not  most 
of  the  historians  been  chiefly  occupied  in  recounting  legends  and 
the  fights  of  kings  or  chiefs,  we  might  have  known  a  good  deal 
about  the  domestic  life  of  our  forefathers  ;  this  fact,  however,  we 
do  gather  from  various  sources,  that  not  only  churches,  but  houses, 
were  decorated  from  time  to  time  in  winter  with  such  leaves, 
flowers,  or  berries  as  were  obtainable  from  the  woods,  lanes,  or 
fields  ;  gardens  could  not  yield  them  much,  since  they  were  few, 
and  contained  scarcely  any  plant  that  was  not  native.  Foreign 
evergreens,  of  course,  were  quite  unknown. 
One  reason  why  folks  in  the  olden  time  put  evergreens  about 
their  houses  has  no  influence  now.  They  were  supposed  to  offer  an 
attraction  to  the  woodland  spirits,  who  wanted  warmth  and  shelter 
at  the  season  when  other  trees  were  leafless.  This,  of  course, 
implies  that  people  thought  these  beings,  or  at  least  the  most  of 
them,  were  favourably  disposed  to  mankind.  Evidently  the  ever¬ 
greens  they  chiefly  depended  on  were  Holly  and  Ivy.  The 
former  was  admitted  to  churches,  not  the  latter,  because  it  was 
associated  with  Bacchus  and  revelry. 
Though  we  have  no  evidence  to  support  the  notion  that  Holly 
was  thus  named,  because  it  was  deemed  “  holy  ”  or  sacred,  evidently 
the  Anglo-Saxon,  like  other  old  names  for  the  tree,  refers  to  its 
prickliness,  thus,  the  Welsh  celyn,  meaning  “shelter”  or 
“  protection,”  alludes  to  the  security  afforded  by  its  spiny 
foliage.  More  singular  is  the  early  name  of  liulver  or  hulfreere 
given  to  the  Holly,  which  appears  to  have  been  derived  from  the 
French  for  the  Olive,  and  the  reason  was,  that  at  several  festivals, 
Holly  leaves  were  strewed  on  the  ground  as  an  odd  substitute  for 
those  of  the  other  tree,  not  pleasant,  certainly,  to  tread  on,  if  the 
feet  were  insufficiently  shod.  Then  they  could  get,  at  least  in 
south  England,  the  branches  of  the  Privet,  or,  as  it  was  once  called, 
Prim  print,  now  so  largely  used  for  hedges,  but  a  true  native, 
occurring  in  woods  or  copses,  especially  on  a  dry  soil,  and  which 
is  more  or  less  evergreen,  the  berries  adding  an  attraction  during 
winter.  These  appear  to  be  avoided  by  most  birds,  unless  greatly 
pressed  for  food. 
For  the  sake  of  the  showy  fruits  our  ancestors  might  also  have 
cut  branches  of  the  Gueldre  Rose  ;  but  these  are  apt  to  vanish 
before  the  winter  sets  in,  though  those  often  remain  borne  by  its 
relative,  the  Wayfaring  Tree,  deepening  in  colour  till  almost  black. 
From  the  lanes  and  roads,  too,  they  would  get  plenty  of  the 
branches  of  another  plant  familiar  to  travellers,  and,  when  growing 
in  tangled  masses,  affording  sufficient  shade  in  summer  to  be  called 
the  Traveller’s  Joy.  Even  yet  there  are  places  where  festoons  of 
this  wild  Clematis  extend  over  a  narrow  lane,  linking  the  hedges 
on  each  side.  But  the  plumey  tops,  as  autumn  approached, 
suggested  the  still  familiar  name  of  Old  Man’s  Beard,  and  the 
cottagers  adorned  their  homes  with  these,  while  they  sometimes 
made  the  hard  brown  branches  serve  as  pipes  for  smoking.  On 
heaths  and  commons  some  would  find  the  Furze  or  Gorse  (Ulex 
europmus)  exhibiting  a  few  golden  blooms,  as  it  occasionally 
flowers  at  all  seasons,  and  a  branch  with  these  on  it  might  be 
put  above  the  doorway,  type  of  unchangeable  love,  symbolic  also 
of  strength.  Quantities  were  cut  in  winter  to  shelter  cattle  or 
cover  sheds,  and  the  dry  boughs  made  good  fuel. 
Excluded  from  churches  because  of  its  pagan  associations,  the 
Mistletoe,  at  and  after  Christmas,  was  commonly  placed  in  houses  ; 
but  it  had  to  be  removed  on  or  before  Candlemas  Day,  and  popnlar 
belief  attached  chief  value  to  pieces  obtained  from  the  Oak.  The 
many  virtues  attributed  to  the  Mistletoe  need  not  be  recounted 
here,  some  superstitious,  some  curative  ;  but  one  thing  we  notice, 
that  the  berries,  now  esteemed  as  one  source  of  birdlime,  were  not 
employed  by  our  ancestors;  the  all-cure  beverage  was  produced  by 
boiling  the  stems.  It  was  thought  a  good  thing  to  have  within 
doors  a  bough  of  the  Rowan  or  Mountain  Ash  ;  but,  unless 
obtained  early  in  autumn,  the  berries  would  probably  be  cleared  by 
the  assiduous  thrushes.  One  of  its  excellencies  was  that  it  kept 
away  evil  spirits.  • 
If,  in  visiting  the  woods,  as  happens  some  seasons,  boughs  of 
some  deciduous  trees,  the  Oak  and  Beech,  for  instance,  were  found 
still  retaining  their  leaves,  these  would  very  likely  be  brought 
home,  and  also  boughs  of  Elder  that  might  be  noticed  with  early 
leaves,  which,  though  cut  off  afterwards,  tell  of  the  presence  of  a 
mildness  even  in  winter.  Then  the  silvery  Birch,  laden  with 
catkins,  as  we  read,  was  made  to  supply  decorations,  often  accom¬ 
panied  by  sprigs  of  Box,  which  were  not  hung  up  till  after 
Candlemas.  Yew,  sombre  looking,  though  evergreen,  had  its 
branches  cut  towards  Easter,  and  hung  up,  presumably,  because  it 
symbolised  immortal  life. 
Then  the  Laurel  is  mentioned  amongst  the  occasional  adorn¬ 
ments  of  the  house  ;  this  evidently  was  the  Spurge  Laurel 
(Daphne  laureola),  with  its  clustering  leaves,  and  which  displays 
small  green  and  fragrant  flowers  about  the  end  of  March. 
Some  state  that  if  a  branch  was  placed  indoors  it  wrought  as  a 
charm  to  cure  sick  persons.  Some  humbler  evergreens  would  be 
gathered,  concerning  which  we  are  not  told,  such  as  the  Butcher’s 
Broom  (Ruscus  aculeatus)  now  scarcer  than  formerly,  the  Pyrolas, 
or  Winter-greens,  the  Cudweeds,  and  Ferns  which  might  be 
discovered  leafy  in  sheltered  nooks.  Of  course,  berries  of  various 
kinds  besides  those  named  could  be  got  during  an  average 
winter. — J.  R.  S.  C. 
FARMLEIGH,  CASTLEIvNOCK,  Co.  DUBLIN. 
Snugly  nestling  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Phoenix  Park  is 
Farmleigh,  one  of  the  Irish  residences  of  Lord  Iveagb.  Embowered  in 
patriarchal  trees  it  enjoys  a  seclusion  that,  perhaps,  but  few  places  can 
claim  in  the  contiguity  to  a  chief  city.  The  lofty  clock  tower,  130  feet 
high,  is,  however,  a  conspicuous  landmark,  by  which  one  is  able  to 
locate  from  afar  off  the  whereabouts  of  Farmleigh.  It  is  the  day  of  rest 
when  we  (two  of  the  craft.)  trespass  on  Mr.  Morton  for  a  peep  at  the 
many  things  under  his  care.  Possibly  it  is  the  most  convenient  time  for 
him  to  relax  a  little  from  his  manifest  labours  of  love,  for  it  is  a  fact, 
and  one  that  he  does  not  deny,  that  he  is  but  seldom  absent  from  them. 
Hence,  perhaps,  is  the  reason  that  though  for  some  years  I  have  revolved 
round  that  clock  tower  within  a  score  of  miles,  it  is  but  lately  we  have 
come  in  contact,  and  not  until  to-day  been  within  the  gates,  though  the 
attractive  force  has  frequently  been  felt. 
The  glass  department  is  the  prominent  feature  of  Farmleigh, 
although  through  the  highly  kept  grounds  a  liberal  planting  of  Coniferae 
embellish  the  winter  scene.  Some  majestic  Beeches  with  broad  sweeping 
heads  form  an  admirable  background  to  a  strelcb  of  lawn  on  the  north 
side  of  the  mansion.  On  these  Time’s  rude  hand  is  beginning  to  score  ; 
indeed,  being  under  the  protecting  aegis  of  his  lordship,  no  other  hand 
is  permitted  to  curtail  their  ample  proportions.  A  pleasing  feature  in 
this  part  of  the  grounds  is  a  fountain,  the  comparatively  extensive  basin 
of  which  is  simply  margined  by  the  turf.  This,  when  playing,  throws 
far  up  a  single  jet.  A  commodious  boathouse  at  the  head  of  the  lake  is 
stored  with  various  craft,  from  water  velocipedes  to  light  outriggers. 
Some  heavy  transplanting  of  Limes  is  in  course  of  operation,  with  the 
object  of  giving  more  scope  to  a  flourishing  avenue  of  Thuia  Lobbi. 
Attached  to  the  eastern  end  of  the  mansion  (1  hope  that  my  cardinal 
points  are  not  mixed  through  being  fresh  to  the  immediate  locality)  is 
the  conservatory,  holding  some  noble  specimen  Palms.  The  white  marble 
floor  of  this  house  has  been  much  admired,  and  is,  to  my  mind,  infinitely 
preferable  to  the  multi-coloured  encaustic  tiles  so  often  used  for  the 
purpose  in  houses  of  this  description. 
Palms  are  one  of  the  principal  features  of  plant  culture  at  Farmleigh, 
and  one  cannot  but  marvel  at  their  luxuriance,  considering  the  restricted 
root  room  in  the  small  pots  they  are  confined  to.  Several  houses  are 
devoted  to  these,  one  in  particular  having  a  number  of  Areca  lutescens, 
grand  plants  of  which  l  have  heard  before.  As  in  many  instances  the 
roots  of  these  are  overflowing  the  surface  of  the  pots,  the  secret  of  health 
is  found  in  feeding,  Clay’s  fertiliser  being  favoured  for  the  purpose. 
Phoenix  rupicola  is  a  handsome  Palm,  much  appreciated  here  ;  Mr. 
Morton  thinks  highly  of  this,  and  is  growing  a  hundred  seedlings. 
Kentias,  it  is  needless  to  say,  abound,  and  are  as  duly  appreciated  as 
their  merits  deserve.  As  a  winter-flowering  plant  Begonia  de  Sienna  is 
much  esteemed. 
The  chief  end  and  aim  of  all  plants  grown  here  being  for  decoration, 
as  cut  bloom  or  otherwise,  this  end  in  view  is  never  lost  sight  of,  and  to 
which  the  numerous  houses  are  admirably  suited.  One  house  is  filled 
with  Carnations,  another  with  Odontoglossums,  chiefly  Alexandras  ;  1000 
of  these,  as  grown  here,  form  no  mean  collection.  One  variety  in  par¬ 
ticular  is  noticed  which  in  the  earlier  days  of  their  culture  would  have 
caused  a  sensation  in  its  full,  round,  substantial  petals,  and  may,  even 
now,  be  regarded  as  a  prize  in  the  lottery  of  an  imported  collection.  A 
long  line  of  Cypripedium  insigne  have  waved  their  slippers  at  us 
through  the  side  windows  of  a  stove  house  as  we  entered  the  gardens  ; 
these,  on  closer  acquaintance,  are  fine  plants  in  8-inch  pots  ;  and, 
probably  the  length  of  leg  (stem)  displayed  is  to  be  attributed  to  the 
extra  warmth  they  apparently  enjoy  ;  anyway,  they  are  better  adapted 
for  showing  to  advantage  when  cut.  In  this  house  some  plants  of  a 
particularly  fine  form  of  Dendrobium  Parishi  are  hybernating,  the 
pseudo-bulbs  being  longer  and  more  robust  than  is  usual  with  the 
type.  Mr.  Morton  had  these  direct  from  Cachar — on  the  Indian  side  of 
Barmah.  A  photograph  of  this  Dendrobe,  taken  when  in  bloom,  reveals 
its  high  character. 
Cypripedium  Elliotianum,  of  which  fig.  8  is  a  representation,  shows 
the  veining  of  the  dorsal  sepal  standing  out  clear  and  distinct,  and 
brings  out  a  eulogium  from  the  grower  on  its  merits.  In  one  of  a  series 
of  low  span-roofed  houses  a  large  group  of  highly  coloured  Crotons  in 
the  leading  varieties  is  suggestive  of  some  fine  decoratiye  effects  in  the 
near  future.  In  this  range  Tea  Roses  are  gently  moving  into  growth. 
