416 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
May  7,  1896. 
Forget-me-nots,  Arabises,  Aubrietias,  Tulips,  and  Daffodils,  backed  by 
another  supporting  wall  covered  with  such  plants  as  Magnolias, 
Loniceras,  Chimonanthes,  Photinia  serrulata,  Forsythias,  Spiraeas,  and 
others,  many  of  which  look  as  if  they  had  been  there  for  generations. 
In  the  wall  was  another  door,  then  another  dungeon  with  shaft  of  spiral 
steps,  and  up  we  go — a  little  less  gingerly  than  at  first — and  find 
another  garden  full  of  flowers  and  another  climber-clad  wall.  We  might, 
if  fanciful,  call  these  flowery  terraces  hanging  gardens.  They  are 
gardens  in  stories  one  above  the  other,  and  at  the  top  of  the  highest  is 
another  terrace  and  entrance  to  the  Castle.  It  is  here  where  the 
Duchess,  with  her  well-known  kind  heart  for  suffering  humanity,  shows 
that  it  does  not  end  there,  for  this  terrace  is  the  feeding  ground  for 
birds,  the  different  kinds  of  which  are  provided  with  food  they  like  best. 
Charming  is  the  view  from  here  southwards  over  the  three  gardens  (for 
they  cannot  all  be  seen  at  once),  and  down  in  the  dells  between  the 
trees,  the  tops  of  which  are  far  below  us,  and  which  extend  in  cumulus¬ 
like  masses  into  the  far  distance. 
From  the  eastern  end  of  this  elevated  garden  we  find  our  way  into 
the  open — on  the  great  terrace,  a  large  expanse  of  gravel,  supported  by 
the  semicircular  battlements,  which  have  their  foundations  deep  down 
in  the  crest  of  the  bold  slope,  which  reaches  to  the  level  land  far  below. 
Very  “  open  ”  indeed  is  the  outlook  here  to  the  east  and  north.  There 
is  nothing  to  obstruct  the  view  over  the  absolutely  flat  expanse  of 
country  so  far  as  the  eye  can  see.  As  an  example  of  the  nature  of  the 
landscape,  it  may  be  said  that  from  this  commanding  terrace  the  famous 
Lincoln  Minster  can  be  seen  on  a  clear  day  standing  majestically  on  its 
bold  eminence  twenty-seven  miles  away. 
Crossing  the  north  terrace,  or  carriage  entrance,  and  passing  the 
north-west  terrace,  with  its  brass  cannon,  we  arrive  at  the  Castle  end 
of  the  path  first  mentioned,  as  having  been  formed  along  the  great 
crescent-shaped  slope  facing  the  south,  and  obtain  the  first  glance  of  the, 
to  many  visitors,  principal  charms  of  Belvoir  at  this  season — the  spring 
flowers.  The  firBt  bright  beds  are  seen  at  the  bottom  of  a  circular  dell, 
more  or  less  arched  over  with  trees,  in  the  shade  of  which,  and  on  the 
margin  of  the  dell,  shines  a  hedge-like  mass  of  the  fine  old  shrub 
Kerria  japonica,  as  studded  with  thousands  of  its  golden  rosette-like 
blooms.  Overlooking  this  dell  is  a  two-storied  summer  house,  one 
compartment  entered  from  the  lower  level,  the  other  from  the  flight  of 
steps  that  lead  from  the  bottom  of  the  dell  to  the  upper  terrace.  This 
small,  bright,  cosy  nook  is,  we  think,  called  the  Duke’s  Garden,  and  a 
delightful  spot  it  is,  but  only  a  mere  speck  of  beauty  in  comparison  with 
what  follows. 
Journeying  westward  under  a  bower  of  foliage  a  short  flight  of 
balustrated  steps  leads  to  the  Castle  garden.  Here  the  walk  widens 
out,  so  to  say,  into  a  plateau  in  which  large  beds  are  numerous,  and  on 
one  side  a  bold  sweeping  border  all  filled  with  flowers  that  are  effective 
in  masses  or  mixtures  from  February  till  the  end  of  May,  or  from 
the  sparkling  of  the  Winter  Aconites  to  the  fading  of  the  Wallflowers, 
and  the  waning  of  the  Aubrietias,  Primroses,  vernal  Phloxes,  and  other 
kinds  that  are  extensively  grown.  In  its  fleecy  masses  of  colour  and 
pleasing  combinations  this  garden  is  highly  effective,  and  many  thou¬ 
sands  of  plants  must  be  employed  in  its  furnishing. 
Following  the  curving  walk  for  a  still  further  distance  from  the 
Castle,  with  shrubs  on  the  left  and  glimpses  of  the  lawn  between  and 
below  them,  and  the  high  woodland  bank  on  the  right,  with  informal 
sprinklings  of  flowers  in  the  grass  between  the  trees,  we  arrive  at  the 
most  beautiful  part  of  these  beautiful  slopes — a  larger  and  more  open 
expanse  of  dressed  lawn  on  both  sides,  especially  the  left,  and  greater 
space  between  the  masses  of  flowers  and  shrubs.  On  the  sharply  sloping 
bank  on  the  right  the  somewhat  formal  design  previously  mentioned 
attracts  attention,  partly  because  of  its  being  so  well  displayed  in  its 
position,  and  partly,  as  in  contrast  with  the  greater  freedom  of  the 
arrangements,  on  the  opposite  side,  or  boldly — very  boldly,  it  may  be  said — 
undulating  lawn.  The  different  beds,  with  unconventional  landBlip-like 
terraces  of  flowers,  held  up  by  6tones,  groups  of  shrubs  with  nooks  of 
flower-clad  low  rocky  mounds  between  them,  and  thinly  disposed  trees, 
occupy  a  considerable  space  of  ground  ;  and  whether  viewed  from  top 
to  bottom,  bottom  to  top,  or  end  to  end — in  fact,  from  any  position — 
the  effect  is,  perhaps,  unique,  especially  having  regard  to  the  grandeur 
of  the  position,  and  such  a  scene,  taken  in  its  entirety,  is  probably  not 
to  be  found  elsewhere. 
A  few  of  the  combinations  of  flowers  in  some  of  the  beds  will  indicate 
their  character.  Most  of  the  associations  are  simple  enough,  but  are  not 
on  that  account  the  less  pleasing.  The  beds  are  numbered  for 
convenience  of  distinction,  and  not  in  the  least  as  indicating  their 
sequence  along  the  slopes. 
No.  1  Bed. — A  large  central  mass  of  Wallflower  Belvoir  Castle 
Yellow  (Yeitch),  with  a  row  each  of  Heuchera  Richardsoni  dotted  with 
Tulip  Duchesse  de  Parme,  Myosotis  alpestris  Queen  Victoria,  double 
Violet  Lady  Hume  Campbell  ;  edging,  two  rows  of  double  pink  Daisy. 
No.  2. — Centre,  Myosotis  dissitiflora  alba,  dotted  with  Tulip  Reiser’s 
Kroon  ;  edge,  two  rows  of  double  red  Daisy. 
No.  3, — Centre,  Phlox  divaricata,  with  a  row  each  of  Phlox  amcena, 
yellow  Polyanthus,  Aubrietia  Leichtlini  ;  edging,  a  row  of  double  pink 
Daisy. 
No.  4. — Centre,  Alyssum  saxatile  nana,  surrounded  by,  in  order 
named,  Phlox  amoena,  coloured  Polyanthus,  blue  Aubrietia,  and  a 
margin  of  double  pink  Daisy. 
No.  5. — Centre  a  large  mass  of  Wallflower  Veitch’s  Dwarf  Dark  Red, 
two  rows  of  Saxifraga  liguata  dotted  with  Tulip  Vermilion  Brilliant, 
two  of  Aubrietia  Leichtlini,  and  an  edging  of  Arabis  variegata. 
No.  6. — Centre,  one  plant  of  Iris  fcetidissima  variegata,  circle  of 
Heuchera  Richardsoni  and  Skylark  Pansy,  three  lobes  lined  out  with 
Golden  Feather  drawn  in  at  the  angles,  which  are  filled  with  Saxifraga 
muscoides,  one  lobe  filled  with  Gilbert’s  Harbinger  Primrose,  one  mixed 
Polyanthus,  and  one  mixed  Alpine  Auricula. 
No.  7. — Centre  a  large  mass  of  Wallflower  Belvoir  Castle  Yellow, 
with  a  row  each  of  Saxifraga  cordifolia  purpurea,  Erica  carnea, 
Myosotis  dissitiflora,  and  an  edging  of  Phlox  amoena. 
No.  S, — Groundwork,  Phlox  divaricata  dotted  with  Iris  fcetidissima, 
and  edged  with  two  rows  of  Red  Alpine  Daisy. 
No.  9. — Heuchera  Richardsoni  dotted  with  Tulip  Duchesse  de  Parme 
and  Dactylis  variegata  ;  edged  with  Stachys  lanata. 
No.  10. — White  Arabis  dotted  with  pale  red  Hyacinth,  and  edged 
with  two  rows  of  double  red  Daisy. 
No.  11. — Blue  Aubrietia  dotted  with  Tulip  Cottage  Maid,  and  edged 
with  Golden  Feather. 
No.  12. — Saxifraga  muscosa  dotted  with  Golden  Feather  and  double 
Tulip  La  Candeur. 
ODber  flowers  more  or  less  extensively  grown  ; — Corydalis  cava, 
Doronicum  plantagineum,  D.  austriacum,  Iris  pumila  bicolor, 
Erythronium  giganteum,  Polygala  chamaebuxus,  P.  c.  purpurea, 
Orobus  verna,  Gentiana  acaulis,  Sanguinaria  canadensis,  Ornithogalum 
nutans,  Narcissi  in  variety,  and  Anemone  fulgens. 
Among  the  most  effective  flowers  now  are  grand  masses  of  Aubrietia 
Leichtlini,  probably  the  finest  stock  in  the  kingdom,  and  the  beds  of 
Phlox  divaricata,  which  the  writer  has  only  seen  equalled  in  the  gardens 
of  the  great  Belgian  amateur,  Mr.  Jean  Everaerts  at  Vieu  Dieux,  near 
Antwerp.  It  may  be  added  that  a  new  variety  of  Aubrietia  has  been 
sent  to  Belvoir  by  Mr.  Max  Leichtlin,  and  named  in  commemoration  of 
his  friend,  the  late  Mr.  Ingram.  Aubrietia  Ingrami  has  unusually  large 
bluish  flowers  with  a  fainter  rose  tint  than  in  A.  Leichtlini,  and  will  be 
largely  increased  by  Mr.  Divers.  The  habit  of  the  plant  is  very  robust. 
The  flowering  and  ornamental  shrubs  which  impart  fragrance  and 
beauty  to  the  gardens  include  Acers  polymorphum  atro-purpuieum  and 
A.  Negundo  variegata,  Amelanchier  botryapium,  Arundinaria  falcata, 
Azara  microphylla  (Vanilla  scented),  Bambusa  Metake,  Berberis  Darwini, 
dulcis,  and  japonica,  Camellias  of  sorts,  Chimonanthus  fragrans,  Choisya 
ternata,  Kerria  japonica,  Corylus  avellana  purpurea,  Forsythia 
suspensa,  Leycesteria  formosa,  Lonicera  fragrantissima,  Magnolias  con- 
spicua  Soulangeana,  M.  Lennei,  M.  grandiflora,  and  M.  umbrella,  Olearia 
Haasti,  Photinia  serrulata,  Punica  granatum,  Pyrus  Maulei,  Ribes  san- 
guineum  glutinosum  and  s.  atro-rubens,  Rhododendron  Falconeri, 
Thomsoni,  and  other*,  Spiraea  Thunbergi  and  S.  prunifolia  fl.-pl., 
Staphylea  colchica,  and  Styrax  japonica. 
Returning  for  a  moment  to  the  flowers,  it  may  be  noted  that  whereas 
formerly  the  beautification  of  the  slopes  was  limited  to  such  as  those 
above  mentioned,  now  they  are  followed  by  others  for  imparting  bright¬ 
ness  in  summer,  and  between  30,000  and  40,000  are  in  preparation  for 
planting  in  due  time.  A  large  section  of  the  walled  garden — a  slice  of 
an  acre  or  two  across  the  southern  end  of  the  kitchen  garden — is  wholly 
devoted  to  flowers,  and  there  in  the  strong  soil  Daffodils  luxuriate, 
affording  flowers  for  cutting  by  the  cartload. 
Vanishing  space  permits  of  only  a  brief  reference  to  the  kitchen 
garden  and  glass  department.  This  garden  of  8  acres  is  enclosed  by 
lofty  walls,  entered  by  large  iron  gates,  flanked  by  pillars  surmounted 
by  architectural  embellishments,  the  main  walks  being  wide  enough 
for  carriage  drives.  The  walls  are  clothed  with  fruit  trees,  bush  trees 
being  also  extensively  grown.  The  hardy  fruit,  also  the  vegetable 
department,  receive  the  same  thoughtful  care  from  Mr.  Divers  as  do  the 
flowers;  also,  it  goes  without  saying,  does  the  cultivation  under  glass. 
There  is  a  grand  range  of  vineries,  with  mostly  ancient  Vines,  that  the 
gardener  is  making  the  best  of,  and  that  best  will  be  very  good.  Peach 
and  plant  growing  accommodation  is  limited,  but  there  is  no  murmur¬ 
ing,  endeavour  being  simply  made  to  turn  all  available  means  to  the 
best  account ;  and  it  is  pleasant  to  see  that  Pines  are  not  forgotten,  a 
pit  being  filled  with  splendidly  grown  plants. 
Another  paragraph  or  two  anent  the  gardener,  whose  portrait  is 
given  (fig.  68).  Mr.  Divers  has  won  his  way  to  the  position  he  holds  by 
sheer  ability,  coupled  with  his  high  character  and  educational  attain¬ 
ments,  the  latter  no  doubt  being  largely  self-acquired.  A  good  and 
accurate  penman,  draughtsman,  and  arithmetician,  with  a  knowledge  of 
plants,  Bhrubs,  and  trees  that  enables  him  to  name  nearly  all  with  which 
he  comes  in  contact  at  sight,  and  an  all-round  cultivator  of  the  first 
order — these  are  qualifications  that,  plus  intelligence  and  good  judg¬ 
ment,  bring  gardeners  to  the  front.  “Not  all  of  them,”  it  may  be 
interjected.  True,  but  there  is  another  truth — namely,  that  those  who 
are  in  possession  of  essential  qualifications  have  undoubtedly  a  better 
chance  of  preferment  than  others  who  possess  them  not  when  the  time 
of  testing  comes. 
