30 
JOVR^TAL  OF  HORTIGULTVRE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
July  9,  1869. 
GARDENS  ABOUT  LONDON. 
Foxbijky. 
Kent  having  long  been  designated  the  Garden  of  England,  it  is  but 
natural  to  expect  that  within  its  ample  boundaries  will  be  found  some 
beautiful  estates — residences  of  the  affluent.  Not  that  it  is  proposed  to 
go  away  into  the  farthermost  corners  of  the  county  in  these  notes,  as 
that  would  be  going  beyond  jthe  title  of  this  series  of  articles.  Nor  is  it 
necessary  ;  for  within  the  radius  of  London’s  smoke  may  bo  found  some 
charmmg  homes,  where  one  may  ace  gardening  as  it  is  understood  by 
man  and  gardening  as  it  is  done  by  Natare.  Coming  well  under  the 
heading  of  “  Gardens  about  London,”  and  possessing  features  of  great 
attraction  is  Foxbury,  Chislehurst,  the  demesne  of  G.  H.  F.  Tiarka,  Esq,, 
and  where  the  widely  known  and  highly  respected  Mr.  J.  Lyne  reigns 
supreme  over  garden  and  farm.  With  the  latter  portion  of  his  duties 
we  have  nothing  to  do  bore,  but  a  few  references  to  the  former — telling 
of  good  work  that  has  been,  and  is  being,  done  will  not  be  out  of  place 
in  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of  Horticulture, 
Of  the  natural  beauty  of  the  surrounding  country  it  will  not  be 
necessary  to  say  very  much,  as  travellers  on  the  Soath-Eastern  Railway 
main  line  know  so  well  how  charming  are  the  environs  of  Chislehurst 
station.  One  may  there  see  stately  wooded  heights,  fertile  valleys, 
and  broad  verdare-clad  meadows,  end  these  cannot  but  create  m  the 
”  gardening  mind  ”  (if  I  may  coin  an  expression)  surmises  as  to  what 
the  many  estates  in  the  neighbourhood  are  like.  Broadly  speafcing.it 
is  safe  to  say  that  while  Nature  has  been  bounteous  in  her  gifts  man 
has  been  ho  less  so,  for  residences  and  gardens,  of  which  the  owners 
may  justly  be  proud,  are  extremely  numerous.  Not  that  all  come  to 
the  point  of  excellence,  it  would  be  a  pity  if  they  did,  for  the  inferior 
ones — though  these  are  decidedly  in  the  minority — serve  but  as  a  spur 
to  the  others  towards  the  attainment  of  better  things.  Enough  has, 
however,  been  said  on  these  points,  and  it  behoves  us  to  return  to 
Foxbnry,  where  is  found  more  food  for  the  pen  than  can  possibly  find 
room  in  this  article,  in  which  the  tit-bit*  only  will  be  noted. 
Foxbury  i*  a  place  where  two  extremes  are  found  in.  its  soil.  In  one 
portion  there  is  a  stiff,  tenacious  loam,  while  in  another  its  staple  is 
literally  full  of  round  cobbles  such  as  one  uiually  associates  with  the 
sea.  Such  being  the  case,  it  will  be  no  matter  for  surprise  to  readers  to 
learn  that  the  difficulties  met  in  the  initial  stages  were  many  and 
varied.  However,  these  have  been  well  surmounted,  and  now  plants  of 
the  most  diverse  kinds  and  requirements  thrive .  apace.  The  main  drive, 
for  example,  is  planted  on  each  side  with  flowering  trees.  Conifers,  and 
Rhododendrons,  all  of  which  are  in  capital  condition.  None  of  the 
specimens  is  very  large,  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  have  not  yet 
been  planted  long  enough  to  attain  to  great  size,  though  they  will 
eventually  do  so  if  they  fulfil  the  augury  that  they  are  now  making. 
Neatness  of  plant  life  is  here  in  association  with  cleanliness  of  the  drive 
itself,  which  is  slightly  undulating  in  character,  so  that  a  good  impres¬ 
sion  is  created  at  the  outset. 
Pleasant  as  is  the  approach,  it  is  no  inore  so  than  many  of  the  other 
portions  of  the  estate,  notably  the  aspect  of  the  mansion,  looking  over 
well-kept  grass  lawns,  huge  banks  of  Rhododendrons,  to  the  lake  and 
the  trees  beyond.  Following  the  borders  of  the  lake  many  pretty 
glimpses  may  be  caught  through  the  trees,  and  peeps  at  the  house  are 
no  less  interesting.  The  dry  weather  has  had- its  effects  on  the  Rhodo¬ 
dendrons,  several  of  which  had  been  recently  lifted,  with  the  result  that 
blossoms  have  not  been  so  numerous  as  is  usually  the  case.  The  water, 
too,  owing  to  the  drought,  is  low  in  the  lake,  so  that  the  stepping-stones 
over  which  we  crossed  lay  dry  above  the  water.  Standing  in  the  centre 
of  these  a  fine  picture  is  open  to  the  eye,  showing  water,  trees,  shrubs, 
and  the  open  country.  From  thence  we  made  our  way  through  cool 
shaded  paths  to  an  open  space  in  the  trees,  of  Which  a  glimpse  is  got  in 
the  foreground  of  the  photographic  illustration  (fig.  7),  though  this  was 
taken,  as  will  readily  be  seen,  when  the  trees  were  leafless.  This  clearing 
is  carpeted  with  splendid  turf,  kept  closely  mown,  and  is  appreciated 
for  its  coolness  and  shade  in  the  summer  when  tea  is  partaken  of  in  the 
open  air. 
Passing  through  an  embrasure  in  the  trees  we  quickly  find  ourselves 
In  the  conservatory  shown  on  the  right  of  the  picture.  This  structure 
as  depicted  is  dwarfed  by  the  mansion,  and  as  a  consequence  looks 
considerably  smaller  than  it  actually  is.  Though  comparatively  plain 
in  appearance  it  is  handsome,  chiefly  perhaps  by  reason  of  its  appearance 
of  substantiality,  while  the  plants  therein  adorn  it  to  perfection. 
Sturdy  Calceolarias  formed  the  mainstay  of  the  display  at  the  time  of 
the  visit  under  notice.  As  Calceolarias  were  now  massed  therein  so  are 
Cyclamens,  Primulas,  Cinerarias,  and  Pelargoniums  in  their  respective 
seasons,  and  this  massing  of  one  kind  at  a  time  seems,  when  seen, 
peculiarly  in  keeping  with  the  style  in  which  the  structure  is  built. 
Possibly  were  a  heterogenous  mixture  taken  and  arranged  therein  both 
the  plants  and  the  house  would  lose  considerably  in  effect. 
The  bedding  in  close  proximity  to  the  mansion,  and  even  immediately 
under  the  walls  thereof  is  of  the  simplest  description,  consisting  mainly 
of  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  tuberous-rooted  Begonias,  Stocks,  which  by 
reasons  of  their  fragrance  as  well  as  beauty  are  great  favourites  ;  Asters, 
with  Lobelias  and  other  dwarf  plants  for  edging.  There  is  nothing  stiff 
in  this  department.  The  surroundings  have  been  taken  into  con¬ 
sideration  in  the  formation  of  the  beds  and  in  the  planting,  so  that  there 
is  a  pleasing  harmony  over  all  instead  of,  as  is  sometimes  the  case,  a 
startling  incongruity  that  jars  on  the  nerves.  The  grass  is  splendid, 
and  this  despite  the  long  continued  dry  weather.  It  is  very  springy  to 
the  tread,  and  of  that  close  texture  and  rich,  colour  that  is  so  pleasing  to 
every  gardener  and  lover  of  gardening.  By  its  condition  one  would 
naturally  and  rightly  suppose  that  the  chief  here  is  a  firm  believer  in  the 
constant  use  of  the  mowing  machine.  Of  the  mansion  at  Foxbury  little 
need  be  said,  as  the  illustration  conveys  an  admirable  idea  as  to  the 
appearance  of  the  building  and  of  the  style  of  architecture  adopted  in 
its  erection.  Stone  has  been  employed  in  the  building,  and  while  being 
elegant  in  design  it  at  the  same  time  conveys  an  impression  of  strength 
and  forces  the  thought  that  it  will  be  long  ere  it  falls  into  decay. 
Another  portion  is  now  being  added,  bat  the  prevailing  style  is  still 
closely  followed. 
Continuing  our  walk  we  pass  between  two  new  borders,  planted 
principally  with  hardy  perennials,  which  have  not  yet  attained  to  any 
particular  size.  It  is  only  a  short  time  ago  since  these  were  completed, 
and  they  of  course  look  at  the  present  rather  bare ;  but  from  the  nature 
of  the  plants  that  have  been  employed  it  is  easy  to  picture  a  charming 
effect  in  the  course  of  a  few  years.  The  advantages  of  such  borders  in 
gardens  are  numerous,  not  the  least  of  them  being  that,  by  making  a 
judicious  selection,  including  bulbous  plants,  flowers  may  be  had  at 
almost  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Worthy  of  commendation,  too,  is  the 
system  of  labelling  every  kind  that  is  adopted  at  Foxbury,  as  this 
undoubtedly  renders  the  borders  more  interesting  to  visitors,  while  being 
useful  from  an  educational  point  of  view  to  the  young  men  on  the 
estate.  Crimson  Rambler  Rose  has  found  a  home  here,  and  if  the 
experiment  of  training  the  growth  along  strained  wire  6  or  7  feet  from 
the  ground  prove  a  success,  then  will  a  most  brilliant  display  of  blossoms 
be  the  pleasing  result. 
A  few  more  yards  bring  us  within  the  garden  walls,  where  are  situated 
the  glass  houses,  some  of  the  vegetable,  and  a  portion  of  the  fruit 
quarters,  with  flowers  at  the  margins  of  the  walks,  as  well  to  impart 
beauty  to  the  garden  as  to  provide  material  for  cutting  to  adorn  the 
mansion.  As  is  the  case  in  all,  or  nearly  all,  private  establishments,  the 
plants  grown  under  glass  are  of  an  extremely  varied  nature,  and  it  is 
really  surprising  how  the  health  of  the  many  kinds  is  maintained  in  such 
an  excellent  manner  where  they  are  mixed  together  to  such  an  extent  in 
the  houses.  They  speak  far  more  eloquently  than  any  words  can  of  the 
skill  and  thought  that  the  first-class  British  gardener  brings  to  bear  on 
the  duties  incident  to  hia  avocation.  To  horticultural  readers  it  would 
be  wearying  to  give  a  list  of  the  plants  that  are  grown,  so  this  shall  not 
be  done  now.  Let  it  suffice  when  it  is  said  that  there  are  plants  by  the 
hundred,  and  that  all  are  in  excellent  health  and  free  from  insect  pests. 
The  pots,  too,  are  kept  clean,  much  more  so  than  is  sometimes  the  case, 
and  this  must,  to  a  material  extent,  affect  the  well-being  of  the  plants 
that  are  growing  in  them.  In  conjunction  with  cleanliness  of  the  pots 
is  the  freedom  from  dirt  of  the  walls,  rafters,  glass,  and  floors  of  the 
structures,  and  these  combine  to  create  a  favourable  impression  as  one 
enters  the  houses. 
In  justice  to  Mr.  Lyne  a  few  words  must  be  devoted  to  the  Orchids, 
of  w’hich  the  collection  is  a  capital  one.  The  plants  are  not  grown  in 
large  numbers  neither  are  very  expensive  ones  sought  after,  but  there  is 
an  aspect  of  health  and  vigour  such  as  the  Orchid  lover  delights  to  see. 
There  are  Cattleyas  and  Lselias  thriving  in  a  highly  satisfactory 
manner  ;  Dendrobiums  simply  luxuriating  ;  Oypripediums  of  which  the 
chaste  niveum  grows  and  flowers  like  a  weed  ;  and  Odontoglossums 
in  excellent  condition.  The  leaves  and  the  pseudo-bulbs  of  the 
various  Orchids  are  perfectly  clean,  substantial,  and  of  a  rich  green 
colour.  These  are  grown  on  flat  stages  in  several  of  the  houses,  on 
blocks,  and  in  baskets  suspended  from  the  roofs.  Most  of  the  water 
that  has  to  be  used  for  the  various  plants  at  Foxbury  is  very  chalky,  but 
it  apparently  suits  all  with  the  exception  of  Cattleya  citrina.  Perhaps 
Orchid  growers  will  favour  with  an  explanation  of  this,  which  is 
certainly  carious,  as  one  would  have  thought  that  had  the  water  preju¬ 
dicially  affected  one  kind  of  Cattleya  it  would  have  a  similar  action  on 
others. 
Decidedly  one  of  the  most  charming  of  all  the  houses  on  the  estate  is 
the  fernery.  This  is  a  span-roofed  structure  having  a  flat  stage  on  each 
side,  the  centre  being  occupied  with  a  somewhat  lofty  rockery.  Ferns 
in  pots  occupy  the  sides,  while  the  central  mound  is  stocked  with  them 
planted  out.  The  cool,  refreshing  appearance  of  the  Ferns,  combined 
with  the  soothing  sound  of  the  water  as  it  falls  down  the  stones 
amongst  the  plants  in  the  rockery,  is  peculiarly  pleasing.  The  air 
within,  too,  is  cool,  that  outside  being  very  hot,  so  that  ofije  naturally 
leaves  with  a  feeling  of  regret.  The  plants  are  in  splendid  health, 
and  it  is  very  easy  to  see  that  the  whole  of  their  surroundings  are 
congenial  in  every  respect.  Beneath  the  roof  is  trained  a  creeper  that, 
though  exceeding  beautiful  and  useful  for  cutting,  is  very  rarely  seen. 
This  is  Stigmaphyllon  ciliatum,  the  Oncidium-like  flowers  of  which  are 
produced  in  a  most  bounteous  manner — in  fact,  it  is  very  rare  indeed 
