June  4,  1896. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
509 
wanderings  we  noticed  a  number  of  splendid  Ivy-leaved  Pelargoniums, 
whose  ultimate  destination  was  the  beds  and  borders. 
As  may  naturally  be  supposed  Roses  are  great  favourites  here  as 
almost  everywhere  else,  and  certainly  they  thrive  as  a  true  lover  would 
wish  them  to  do.  The  plants  in  the  delightfully  situated  Rose  garden  are 
of  exceptional  vigour,  and  look  as  though  they  will  produce  some  splendid 
flowers  in  the  very  near  future.  Not  that  exhibition  is  tbe  goal  aimed 
at ;  on  the  contrary  the  blooms  are  desired  by  Mrs.  Reckitt  for  the 
adornment  of  the  rooms  of  the  mansion.  As  a  result  of  this  varieties 
have  been  selected  which  will,  while  providing  flowers  of  good  average 
quality,  give  them  also  in  considerable  numbers.  The  major  portion  of 
the  plants  are  inserted  in  slightly  raised  beds,  and  a  hard  system  of 
pruning  is  adopted,  which  has  so  far  been  conducive  to  excellent  results. 
Of  course  there  are  Roses  in  other  portions  of  the  grounds,  but  it  is  in 
this  particular  spot  that  the  main  supplies  of  blooms  are  sought  for,  and, 
what  is  more,  obtained. 
Attached  to  the  mansion  is  a  very  handsome  conservatory,  which  is 
at  all  times  kept  as  gay  as  possible  with  seasonable  flowers,  and  as  the 
two  dozen  of  the  best  flowers  had  been  cut,  were  hanging  some  well 
formed  blooms  of  splendid  shape,  substance,  and  delicious  fragrance. 
In  close  proximity  to  this  is  a  plant  of  Niphetos  also  in  capital  condition. 
To  particularise  all  the  plants  grown  would  be  of  no  interest  to  readers, 
but  special  mention  must  be  made  of  the  foliage  plants  for  decoration, 
the  Chrysanthemums,  the  Ferns,  and  the  various  kinds  of  bedding  plants, 
all  of  which  were  in  such  condition  as  to  prove  the  presence  of  a  man 
who  thoroughly  understood  their  requirements  at  the  head  of  affairs. 
Orchids,  too,  receive  attention,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  eventually  a 
eood  stock  of  these  plants  will  be  secured,  as  it  is  practically  certain, 
judging  by  the  few  now  grown,  that  their  extended  culture  would  be 
followed  by  the  most  creditable  results. 
The  fruit  department  under  glass  is,  though  not  particularly 
extensive,  one  of  the  best  managed,  as  the  condition  of  the  various 
kinds  amply  testifies.  The  Vines  are  particularly  good,  and  the  bunches 
of  Grapes  looked  as  if  they  would  swell  to  perfection.  The  leafage, 
without  being  superabundant,  is  plentiful,  and  of  splendid  substance 
and  texture  ;  while  the  main  rods  and  laterals  are  as  clean  as  anyone 
could  possibly  wish  to  see.  Reaches,  too,  are  admirably  grown,  and 
Fig.  83.— CAEN  WOOD  TOWERS. 
plants  do  not,  as  a  rule,  last  very  long  in  the  lofty  structure  change  is 
ever  in  progression.  The  house  has  one  long  central  path  leading  from 
the  dining-room  through  to  the  other  greenhouses,  and  with  the  exception 
of  a  row  of  handsome  Tree  Ferns  in  tubs  down  the  centre,  all  the  arrange¬ 
ments  have  to  be  done  on  the  side  stages.  Azaleas  formed  the  greater 
part  of  the  display  when  we  had  the  pleasure  of  a  look  through,  and  very 
beautiful  they  looked.  Some  of  the  plants  were  several  feet  high  and 
through,  and  all,  large  and  small  alike,  were  full  of  flowers.  The  form 
of  training  was  neat  without  being  stiff,  or  the  display  would  probably 
have  been  less  effective.  Interspersed  amongst  the  Azaleas  were  several 
Palms  and  Ferns,  and  the  placing  of  them  so  as  to  insure  the  best  possible 
efEect,  left  little  room  for  criticism.  From  one  corner  of  the  dining-room, 
through  a  narrow  window,  a  peep  is  got  into  a  refreshingly  cool  looking 
fernery,  a  later  search  for  the  door  of  which  was  absolutely  fruitless. 
We  afterwards  learned  that  ingress  was  gained  through  a  trap-door  in 
the  floor.  The  Ferns,  especially  Maidenhairs,  were  in  splendid  condition. 
In  the  greenhouses  and  stoves  the  plants  are  of  all  kinds  and  sizes  ; 
but  those,  such  as  tuberous  Begonias,  Marguerites,  and  Zonal  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  which  are  particularly  showy,  each  occupy  a  goodly  amount  of 
space.  On  one  of  the  greenhouse  roofs  is  a  grand  plant  of  Mardchal 
Niel  Rose,  on  which,  despite  the  fact  that  just  previously  to  our  advent 
despite  all  the  “  Sceptic” — of  whom,  by  the  way,  we  have  heard  little  of 
late — has  said  in  the  Journal  of  Horticulture,  Mr.  Burt  is  still  a  believer 
in  ripened  wood.  He  has  tried  “  Sceptic’s  ”  systi  m,  and  almost  absolute 
failure  has  occurred.  There  are  the  plants  side  by  side.  The  one 
carrying  a  full  crop,  and  the  other  only  bearing  one  or  two  small 
specimens  that  are  not  worthy  the  name  of  fruits.  Hardy  fruits  are  not 
neglected  for  the  sake  of  those  under  glass,  and  all  kinds  are  in  excellent 
condition.  The  trees  and  bushes  are  clean  and  healthy,  and  from  the 
blossom  they  bore  should  produce  handsome  crops  of  fruit ;  but  they 
must,  with  everything  else,  be  needing  rain  badly  by  now. 
The  vegetable  garden  appeared  to  us  to  be  of  very  limited 
dimensions  when  the  requirements  of  the  establishment  are  considered, 
but  like  all  true  gardeners  Mr.  Burt  is  doing  his  very  best  with  the 
resources  at  his  command.  Though  not  actually  occupied  a  month  ago, 
every  part  of  the  available  space  was  allotted  out  to  the  various  crops  in 
varying  extents  according  to  their  popularity  and  utility,  and  the  ground 
had  all  been  thoroughly  prepared  for  plants  and  seeds  at  the  proper 
time.  Mechanical  work  had  played  its  all-important  part,  with  the 
result  that  the  soil  was  in  splendid  condition.  A  few  crops,  of  course, 
were  in  the  ground,  and  all  without  exception  looked  remarkably  well. 
Cucumbers  and  Tomatoes  claim  a  good  portion  of  the  space  under  glass, 
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