508 
Journal  of  horticulture  AM  cottage  gardener. 
itine  4, 1891 
being  similar  to,  but  more  pronounced  than,  common  Broom 
(Cytisus  scoparius).  They  tell  us,  however,  what  the  Laburnums 
require  in  respect  of  soil — namely,  calcareous  gravel,  on  which 
the  finest  and  most  floriferous  specimens  are  found,  also  on  light 
loams  and  sandy  soils. 
Of  the  many  varieties  of  the  common  Laburnum  Waterer’s 
(L.  v.  Watereri)  is  the  best  for  length  of  raceme,  depth  of  colour, 
and  floriferousness.  For  growing  in  pots,  training  as  an  upright 
cordon,  and  bringing  into  flower  by  gentle  forcing,  there  is  nothing 
so  charming  as  this  in  association  with  similar  plants  of  Wistaria 
chinensis.  Parkes’  (L.  v.  Parkesi)  also  has  very  long  racemes,  and 
deeper  coloured  flowers  than  the  type.  The  golden-leaved  variety 
(L.  v.  aureum)  is  interesting,  and  so  also  is  the  weeping  (L.  v.  pen¬ 
dulum). 
L.  alpinum,  Alpine  or  Scottish  Laburnum  — This  is  the  species 
usually  met  with  in  the  North  of  England  and  in  Scotland.  It  is  a 
sturdier  grower  than  the  English,  so-called  ;  leaves  large  and  glossy, 
flowers  of  a  deeper  yellow  colour,  and  racemes  sometimes  quite  as 
long  or  longer.  It  also  blooms  later,  sometimes  not  till  J une.  The 
pods  of  this  species  are  shorter  than  those  of  the  common  species 
(L.  vulgare),  smooth,  with  distinctly  winged  upper  suture.  Loudon 
says  this  (L.  alpinum)  is  the  true  Laburnum,  whose  timber  (the 
false  ebony  of  the  French)  is  much  prized  by  cabinet-makers  and 
turners  for  its  hardness,  beauty  of  grain,  and  durability.  It  is 
sturdier  in  all  its  parts  than  the  common  Laburnum,  and  the 
branches  are  terete,  as  also  are  those  of  the  latter  species  ;  but  the 
bark  is  much  darker  in  colour,  that  of  the  common  Laburnum 
being  whitish.  The  Scottish  Laburnum  is  the  hardiest,  and  does 
well  almost  everywhere. 
Hares  and  rabbits  are  very  fond  of  the  bark  of  the  Laburnum, 
and  it  is  of  no  use  attempting  to  grow  the  trees  where  rabbits  and 
hares  abound  unless  they  are  protected  by  wire  netting  around  the 
stem.  There  is  a  variety  of  the  Scottish  Laburnum  with  fragrant 
flowers — namely,  L.  a.  fragrans,  and  the  weeping  is  frequently 
referred  to  this  species.  Indeed,  the  species  L.  alpinum  and 
L.  vulgare  are  so  much  alike,  and  so  much  mixed  in  nurseries,  that 
one  takes  the  place  of  the  other  and  vice  versa. 
L.  Adami,  Adam’s  Laburnum. — This  is  the  most  singular  of  the 
genus.  The  tree  is  somewhat  slender  growing  as  compared  with 
the  other  species,  and  more  erect  in  habit.  The  dull  purplish 
flowers,  produced  in  long  pendulous  racemes,  are  anything  but 
handsome,  but  when  the  head  gets  a  good  size,  and  there  are  parts 
in  it  that  produce  bright  yellow  racemes,  it  becomes  very 
interesting.  A  most  extraordinary  thing  in  connection  with  this 
tree  is  the  complete  reversion  of  some  parts  of  branches  to  one  or 
other  of  the  parents,  it  being  said  that  this  species  is  a  graft  hybrid 
raised  by  Jean  Louis  Adam  by  shield  grafting  Cytisus  purpureus 
on  Laburnum  vulgare.  Has  anyone  grafted  a  branch  of  the  yellow 
form  from  L.  Adami  on  the  common  Laburnum  ?  and  has  this  graft 
produced  dull  purplish  racemes  or  L.  Adami  flowers  ? — G.  Abbey. 
GARDENS  ABOUT  LONDON. 
Caen  Wood  Towers. 
The  northern  suburbs  of  our  vast  metropolis  have  long  been 
celebrated  for  cheir  rural  nature,  of  which  Highgate  Woods,  Parliament 
Fields,  and  Hampstead  Heath  may  be  mentioned  as  typical  examples, 
but  no  one  even  with  a  perfect  knowledge  of  all  the  above  places  would 
expect  to  find  at  Highgate  such  an  estate  as  Caen  Wood  Towers,  the 
London  home  of  Francis  Reckitt,  Esq.  No  more  secluded,  more  reposeful, 
or,  for  its  size,  more  beautiful  home  could  be  found  within  several 
miles  in  any  direction  from  the  modern  Babylon,  and  yet  it  may  be 
reached  in  less  than  one  hour  by  ’bus  and  on  foot  from  Charing  Cross. 
In  actual  acreage  the  estate  is  of  comparatively  limited  dimensions, 
covering,  as  it  does,  only  about  14  acres  of  ground,  of  which  the  larger 
portion  is  pleasure  gardens,  greenhouses,  and  fruit  and  vegetable 
quarters,  besides  which  there  are  one  or  two  small  meadows.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Reckitt  are  lovers  of  all  that  is  beautiful  in  Nature,  and  the 
grounds,  carefully  and  intelligently  tended  by  the  head  gardener^  Mr. 
F,  W.  Burt,  and  his  staff,  are  charming  in  their  natural  beauty. 
About  a  month  ago  a  visit  was  paid  to  Highgate,  and  many  were 
the  objects  of  interest  found  in  the  garden  and  in  the  views  from  the 
terraces  of  the  mansion.  Once  within  the  entrance  gates  and  London 
was  for  the  time  being  forgotten — obliterated  completely.  No  sound  of 
the  turmoil  of  hurrying  London  life  fell  on  the  ears— the  music  of  the 
birds  brought  unexpected  repose  ;  no  cloud  of  dust  and  smoke  was  there 
to  irritate  the  sense  of  smell — the  soothing  fragrance  of  the  flowers 
reigned  in  its  stead  ;  no  soot-begrimed  houses  rose  to  fatigue  the 
eyes — only  trees  and  green  fields  met  and  refreshed  the  wondering  and 
delighted  vision.  From  a  few  enthusiastic  words  of  approbation  which 
fell  from  the  lips  of  a  man  of  wide  travel  we  were  prepared  to  find 
something  exceptional,  but  not  by  any  means  for  what  was  actually  seen. 
Were  we  really  standing  within  sound  of  Big  Ben  ?  was  an  involuntary 
ejaculation,  and  the  listener  did  not  appear  at  all  surprised  at  the  remark, 
but  inferred,  in  assuring  us  it  really  was  so,  that  expressions  of  a  similar 
nature  were  common  from  visitors  at  Caen  Wood  Towers.  And  we 
could  well  believe  him. 
In  the  gardens  and  in  the  landscape  views  the  trees,  bushes,  and  the 
grass  were  wearing  their  most  beautiful  garb — that  of  the  spring.  Each 
tender  leaf,  every  blade  of  grass  had  a  look  of  freshness  that  can  only 
be  seen  in  the  early  months  of  the  year  before  the  dust  and  other 
influences  have  exerted  their  power  in  rendering  this  early  beauty  all 
too  transient,  all  too  fleeting.  But  to  do  justice  to  the  pastoral  beauty 
it  would  require  the  brush  of  a  Turner  instead  of  the  pen  of  the  wander¬ 
ing  horticulturist,  and  with  the  Turners  of  the  present  day  we  will  leave 
it  now  to  say  a  few  words  of  the  mansion,  the  gardens,  and  the  glass 
houses.  Not  that  we  shall  refer  to  all  the  occupants  of  the  two  latter, 
but  to  those  only  as  appeared  to  be  of  more  than  ordinary  merit,  and 
such  a  task,  where  almost  every  phase  of  gardening  that  is  attempted  is 
done  well,  cannot  be  termed  a  light  one.  Nor  is  it  claimed  that  each 
participator  in  the  combination  that  makes  the  whole  place  so  pleasant 
will  get  a  full  meed  of  praise  ;  but  to  all  concerned  it  will  not  be  out  of 
place  even  now,  when  we  are  still  in  the  introductory  stage,  to  offer 
congratulations  on  the  many  successes  that  have  been  so  well  achieved. 
Of  the  handsome  residence  of  Mr.  Reckitt  we  have  little  to  say,  but 
instead  we  will  let  it  speak  for  itself.  The  reproduction  (fig.  83)  from  a 
photograph  by  Mr.  W.  A.  Thompson  of  Highgate  shows  the  entrance  front 
from  the  gates,  the  other  aspects  being  equally  as  attractive.  It  is  a 
modern  erection,  substantially  built,  which  was  purchased  by  the  present 
proprietor  some  few  years  ago  on  account  of  its  beauty  and  the  easy 
driving  distance  at  which  it  is  situated  from  London.  The  trees  in  the 
gardens  are  of  singular  beauty,  and  are  seen  in  considerable  numbers. 
There  are  handsome  Limes,  Elms,  Poplars,  Beeches,  with  several  other 
kinds  in  excellent  condition,  and  many  of  the  specimens  are  very  fine 
indeed.  Then  there  are  flowering  trees  in  abundance,  by  far  the 
more  conspicuous  at  the  time  of  this  visit  being  a  Siberian  Crab,  of 
which  nothing  but  the  trunk  and  the  delicately  hued  blossoms  were 
perceptible,  and  a  Magnolia  to  be  referred  to.  The  Lilacs,  Laburnums, 
and  Thorns  are  well  represented  here  and  there  about  the  grounds, 
in  which  evidences  of  formal  gardening  are  the  exception,  and  not,  as 
is  too  often  the  case,  the  rule.  _ 
Rhododendrons,  of  which  several  were  carrying  trusses  of  fully 
expanded  flowers,  are  a  great  feature,  and  the  way  they  grow  proves 
that  situation  and  attention  are  alike  entirely  congenial.  There  are 
immense  bushes,  many  feet  in  circumference,  clothed  with  stout  strong 
leaves,  that  with  the  already  opened  flowers  spoke  volumes  for  their 
condition.  The  plants  are  dotted  about  in  positions  to  which  they 
cannot  but  be  ornaments.  The  lawns  are  very  extensive,  and  entail  a 
c  msiderable  amount  of  labour  ;  but  their  soft  springiness  testifies  to 
the  attention  they  receive.  Some  portions  had  not  yet  been  mown,  it 
not  being  advisable  to  do  so,  owing  to  the  hundreds  of  Daffodils  that 
have  from  time  to  time  been  planted,  and  of  which  the  foliage  had  not 
yet  completely  died  down.  These  must  have  been  very  beautiful  when 
they  were  in  full  flower,  but  unfortunately  we  were  a  little  too  late  to 
see  them.  This  is  a  system  of  Daffodil  culture  for  which  nothing  but 
commendation  can  be  found,  even  though  it  does  result  in  the  grass 
having  to  remain  for  a  short  period  uncut,  presenting  to  the  hyper¬ 
critical  a  certain  element  of  untidiness. 
The  second  illustration,  taken  at  Caen  Wood  Towers  by  the  same 
photographer,  is,  as  all  readers  will  see,  of  Magnolia  conspicua,  and  it 
will  be  found  in  fig.  84,  at  page  517.  Not  so  large  perhaps  as  some  that 
may  be  found,  it  is  still  a  superb  specimen  of  this  beautiful  plant.  The 
spreading  branches,  touching  the  ground  on  each  side,  were  clothed  with 
flowers,  and  the  position  of  planting  had  evidently  been  chosen  with 
a  view  to  ultimate  artistic  effect,  and  of  a  surety  such  is  fully  secured. 
From  admiring  the  Magnolia  we  passed  over  smooth  and  undulating 
grass  to  a  dell,  wherein  has  been  built  a  rockery  with  a  brook  at  the 
base.  Immense  stones  had  been  utilised  in  the  construction,  which 
was  done  under  the  orders  of  the  former  proprietor  of  the  estate,  and  the 
results  have  not  yet,  and  probably  never  will,  justify  the  outlay. 
Leading  from  this  is  a  woodland  path  of  great  natural  beauty,  such  as 
the  traveller  would  expect  to  find  in  the  solitudes  of  Epping  Forest 
instead  of  in  a  London  garden.  Here  Nature  holds  the  sceptre,  man 
only  coming  as  her  assistant  occasionally  to  keep  the  pathway  open, 
or  possibly  it  would  soon  become  overgrown  and  impassable. 
Of  recent  formation  are  two  fine  herbaceous  borders,  one  on  each  side 
of  a  central  path  of  good  length.  To  permit  of  the  utilisation  of  larger 
growing  plants,  such,  for  example,  as  Dahlias,  the  borders  have  been  made 
of  good  width,  and  will,  when  their  occupants  have  become  thoroughly 
established,  yield  a  practically  unlimited  supply  of  flowers  for  cutting, 
for  which  the  demand  is  by  no  means  small.  Masses  of  each  kind 
have  been  planted,  and  as  the  border  has  been  well  made  the  results 
should  bring  nothing  but  satisfaction.  There  are  a  few  beds  here  and 
there  on  the  lawns,  but  no  attempt  is  made  at  formal  gardening.  As 
a  consequence  the  beds  occupied  with  simple  flowers  come  quite  as  a 
refresher  instead  of  wearying  ODe  by  their  monotony,  as  is  unhappily 
sometimes  the  case.  One  bed,  conspicuous  almost  immediately  after 
passing  the  entrance  gates,  was  stocked  with  the  charming,  rich,  pink- 
bued  Dutch  Tulip  H.  M.  Stanley.  The  remainder  were  filled  with 
spring  flowering  plants,  and  presented  a  pleasing  appearance.  In  our 
