August  20,  189«. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
183 
tion  to  the  inner  man,  we  were  ready  at  two  o’clock  to  proceed  to 
Sandbeck  for  the  afternoon  and  evening. 
Sand  beck  Park  is  not  one  of  the  easiest  places  in  the  world  to  reach, 
for  it  lays  between  seven  and  ten  miles  from  a  station,  and  needless  to 
say  it  was  a  relief  to  be  informed  that  there  was  a  trap  waiting  to  drive 
ns  the  eight  miles  from  Worksop.  In  sach  excellent  company,  and 
seated  behind  a  good  horse,  things  assumed  a  much  brighter  hue,  and 
the  time  went  pleasantly  as  the  fertile  fields  of  Nottinghamshire  were 
passed.  In  one  field  were  some  200  or  300  people  busily  engaged  in 
Pea  picking,  but  onr  cicerone  declaring  his  intention  of  sending  some 
notes  of  this  we  will  say  no  more  of  it  here,  bnt  leave  it  in  hands  more 
worthy  of  dealing  with  an  industry  of  such  magnitude  and  importance. 
Soon  the  village  of  Carlton  is  reached,  bnt  still  our  destination  is  not  in 
sight.  We  note  how  well  the  crops  look  hereabouts,  where  farming  is 
done  under  compulsion  on  the  four-course  system.  All  the  fields  looked 
well,  Oats  being  perhaps  the  poorest. 
An  interruption  occurs  by  our  guide  saying,  “  Do  you  see  those  trees 
over  yonder  ?  ”  and  on  receiving  a  reply  in  the  aflSrmative  continuing, 
“  Well,  that  is  Sandbeck.”  Straightway  cur  conversation  takes  a  turn 
towards  home  matters,  and  is  maintained  until  we  are  pulled  up  by  large 
iron  gates.  Entering  these  we  learn  we  are  going  the  longest  way  round 
to  the  gardens,  but  the  drive  through  these  woods  for  two  miles  is 
delightfully  refreshing  after  several  miles  in  the  full  glare  of  a  hot  sun. 
The  trees  are  magnificent  and  comprise  several  kinds,  but  by  far  the  most 
noticeable  are  the  hundreds  of  Box  with  which  the  drive  is  lined.  They 
are  ancient  specimens  indeed  with  their  gnarled  stems,  and,  what  is  more 
remarkable,  their  drooping  growth.  Instead  of  the  upright  habit  that 
we  are  accustomed  to  see  all  here  hang  gracefully  over  the  walk  ;  so  much 
80  in  fact  did  they  do  so  that  it  was,  a  little  time  ago,  found  necessary 
to  remove  some  trees  entirely  and  curtail  others.  The  weeping  habit  is 
inherited  by  the  young  trees,  which  show  it  plainly  when  they  are  only 
about  2  feet  high.  It  is  computed  that  the  age  of  some  of  the  older  ones 
must  mount  up  into  many  scores  of  years. 
Delightfully  fragrant  are  the  Limes  as  we  pass  beneath  them,  and 
there  are  hundreds,  nay,  thousands,  scattered  about  this  noble  estate. 
Sweet  Chestnuts,  too,  abound,  and  these  lend  of  their  perfume  to  the 
cool  afternoon  air.  At  last,  through  a  vista  in  the  trees,  we  have  a  splendid 
view  of  Sandbeck  in  the  distance.  It  is  an  imposing  though  not  a 
handsome  structure,  strongly  built,  and  having  the  appearance  that  it 
will  stand  yet,  as  it  has  already  stcod,  for  centuries.  This,  then,  is  the 
home  of  the  Earl  of  Scarbrough,  the  present  owner  being  the  Lord 
Lieutenant  of  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire.  Worthy  is  the  home  and 
the  owner  to  uphold  the  dignity  of  the  oflSce.  Long  has  this  noble 
family  reigned  at  Sandbeck,  and  there  is  none  now  who  does  not  wish 
that  it  may  continue  to  fiourish,  for  they  have  ever  been  jutt  and  true 
landlords.  His  Lordship  of  to-day  is  a  horticulturist,  a  liking  that  be 
has  probably  inherited  from  his  ancestor,  who  in  1774  employed 
“  Capability  ”  Brown  to  make  elaborate  alterations  in  the  estate  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  mansion.  In  the  Hon.  Alicia  M.  T.  Amherst’s  book, 
entitled  “  A  History  of  Gardening  in  England,”  is  a  copy  of  the  agree¬ 
ment  that  was  drawn  up  relative  to  the  work  by  the  then  Btrl  and 
Brown.  The  oiiginal  MS.  of  this  agreement  is  in  Sandbeck  now. 
The  gardening  is  of  a  very  varied  character ;  in  fact,  all  phases  of 
the  work  are  embraced.  There  are  pleasure  grounds,  lawns,  flower, 
kitchen,  and  fruit  gardens,  with  orchards,  greenhouses,  and  structures 
for  fruit.  Each  department  is  fairly  extensive,  and  a  feature  that  would 
strike  even  the  most  casual  observer  is  the  neatness  and  cleanliness  of  the 
whole.  Go  where  one  may  there  is  nothing  out  of  p’ace,  and  yet  there 
is  no  incongruity.  There  is  no  stiffness,  no  formality,  nothing  that  would 
fatigue  the  eye,  but  much,  very  much,  that  would  rest  it.  The  lawns 
are  of  great  beauty  and  extent.  Here  and  there  are  clumps  of  trees, 
masses  of  shrubs,  handsome  Limes,  while  in  one  place  is  a  peculiarly 
formed  retreat,  in  which  no  matter  where  are  the  wind  or  the 
sun,  protection  and  shade  can  always  be  secured.  The  turf  is  very  fine 
indeed,  and  though  slightly  tinted  it  does  not  show  any  of  those 
distressing  signs  of  drought  that  have  been  so  common  in  the  South  this 
summer.  _ 
Flanking  the  lawn  on  one  side  is  a  lake  of  some  considerable  size 
where  Water  Lilies  thrive,  and  on  the  sides  of  which  Rusoea  luxuriate. 
Near  to  it  are  many  shrubs  grown  for  their  ornamental  leakage,  others  for 
the  beauty  or  fragrance  of  their  inflorescence,  and  all  for  the  charm 
which  they  lend  to  the  whole.  Leaving  the  lawn  we  pass  to  the  church 
attached  to  the  mansion,  to  which  the  employers  and  tenants  go  on 
Sundays.  It  is  handsome  both  inside  and  out,  and  the  tablets  within 
tell  in  touchingly  simple  language  of  the  Scarbroughs  that  have  passed 
away.  Close  here  are  beds  of  flowers  of  much  diversity,  scarcely  two 
being  alike.  Some  are  filled  with  hardy  flowers,  others  with  Clove  Car¬ 
nations  ;  then  will  come  a  little  desi&rn  in  which  colours  are  massed, 
while  yet  again  we  have  a  tiny  garden  surrounded  with  little  Box  edges 
about  9  inches  high,  and  within  bright  hued  Zonal  Pelargoniums,  dazzling 
yellow  Calceolarias  with  softer  hued  Violas,  and  others  in  harmony  or 
in  contrast.  But  let  os  pass  on . 
Opening  a  gate  in  a  wall  of  recent  erection,  but  built  in  keeping  with 
the  mansion,  on  which  it  abuts,  we  are  at  the  entrance  to  the  house,  and 
before  as  stretches  far  away  the  deer  park  of  400  acres.  Tame  are  the 
deer  that  we  see  grazing  peacefully  or  lying  on  the  thick  grass.  Beyond 
the  park  the  eye  is  greeted  by  dense  masses  of  trees,  with  glimpses  here 
and  there  of  the  country  beyond.  We  turn  and  make  our  way  towards 
the  gardens,  but  pause  by  the  way  to  enter  a  yard  where  the  Mushrooms 
are  grown.  The  ridge  system  of  culture  is  adopted,  and  excellent  are 
the  results  achieved.  Hundreds  of  pounds  are  gathered  during  the  year,, 
the  beds  being  formed  snccessionally  to  provide,  so  far  as  possible,  a 
large,  constant  supply.  In  a  corner  is  an  immense  heap  of  manure  that 
is  waiting  its  turn  to  be  brought  into  valuable  use.  For  such  an 
establishment  this  is  the  finest  Mushroom  garden  that  it  has  ever  been 
our  lot  to  behold. 
From  the  much  -  appreciated  esculent  we  make  our  way  to  the 
vegetable  gardens,  which  are  cropped  in  a  most  finished  manner.  As  one 
follows  the  paths  one  sees  on  every  bit  of  ground  some  vegetable  or 
another  that  is  grown  splendidly.  That  the  working  of  the  ground  ia 
thorough  in  all  respects  cannot  be  doubted  for  a  moment  when  the 
splendil  tilth  is  observed  and  the  produce  is  examined.  Though  the 
ground  is  manured  freely  it  is  not  done  with  fresh  but  with  old  stuff  ;  in 
fact,  all  the  manure  must  first  do  duty  in  the  Mushroom  beds  ere  it 
reaches  the  vegetables.  Evidently  it  has  not  lost  all  its  virtues,  for  the 
crops  make  strong  growth  that  is  in  all  retpects  satisfactory.  There  are 
large  quarters  of  Potatoes,  Carrots,  Parsnips,  Beet,  and,  indeed,  of  all 
vegetables  that  are  appreciated  at  the  table,  and  these  will  in  the  main 
be  the  same  in  all  gardens,  though  the  results  achieved  under  varying 
conditions  of  soil  and  climate  differ  to  a  really  extraordinary  extent. 
Sandbeck  produce — be  it  of  vegetables,  fruits,  or  flowers — is  not  grown 
for  exhibition  but  for  home  consumption  or  market,  so  that  quality,  with 
good  appearance,  is  placed  in  the  position  of  paramount  importance. 
The  experiments  that  the  energetic  chief  is  making  time  to  carry 
out  with  such  care  on  the  effects  of  stocks  on  hardy  fruits — especially 
Apples— are  not  only  interesting,  but  really  instructive  to  fruit  growers 
working  under  similar  conditions.  To  go  into  details  here  would  be 
impossible,  so  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  when  the  experiments  are  complete 
Mr.  Summers  will  find  time  to  give  us  all  the  essential  points  that  have 
been  observed  in  carrying  them  out,  and  the  results.  As  the  older  trees 
are  at  present,  the  variance  in  their  appearance  and  cropping  is  con¬ 
siderable,  owing  to  some  extent  to  the  nature  of  the  soil,  but  amongst 
the  younger  ones  evidences  are  apparent  that  the  difficulty  will  be 
eventually  overcome,  or  at  least  largely  mitigated.  Between  the  bush 
fruits  there  is  little  to  choose  as  regards  quality  or  condition,  for  all  are 
good,  while  Strawberries  are  splendid .  These  are  grown  extensively,  and 
as  new  ones  are  introduced  they  are  given  a  thorough  trial.  As  reference 
was  made  to  some  of  the  varieties  cultivated  in  the  issue  of  July  2nd, 
189G,  by  the  gardener  himself  it  would  be  useless  to  recapitulate  them 
now.  One  and  two-year-old  plants  are  relied  upon  as  giving  by  far  the 
most  satisfactory  results.  _ 
To  pee  fruit  growing  here,  however,  at  its  very  best  the  several  houpes 
must  be  carefully  looked  through.  There  are  Grapes.  Peaches,  and 
Nectarines,  and  Melons  in  great  quantitus,  and  the  results  obtained  are 
in  every  way  praiseworthy  and  creditab’e.  Many  readers  will  remember 
the  time  when  Pines  were  so  magnificently  grown  at  Sandbeck,  but 
that  was  in  the  days  of  long  ago.  for  they  have  had  to  give  place  to 
other  things  of  a  more  useful  nature  as  is  the  case  in  so  many  places 
nowadays.  Returning  to  the  Vines,  we  find  a  state  of  affairs  that  is 
none  too  often  found — perftct  cleanliness.  Main  rods,  laterals,  leaves, 
bunches,  and  berries  are  all  alike  free  from  pests,  and,  of  course,  they 
look  the  better  for  it.  The  foliage  generally  is  of  medium  size,  but  of 
fine  substance  and  colour,  while  the  buLcbes  are  not  particularly  large, 
but  the  berries  are  shapely  and  of  splendid  finish.  The  flavour  is 
highly  developed,  as  personal  experience  can  amply  testify.  In  black 
and  white  the  condition  is  alike  all  that  could  be  desired.  Melons,  too, 
are  splendidly  cultivated,  and  produce  large  numbers  of  fruits  of  good 
size  and  flavour.  _ 
There  is  a  handsome  range  of  houses  for  the  culture  of  Peaches 
and  Nectarines,  and  that  every  advantage  is  taken  to  make  the  best 
use  of  the  trees  therein  is  proved  by  the  excellent  crops  that  are 
secured.  Not  only  are  the  fruits  large,  but  they  are  superbly  coloured, 
and  that  the  quality  is  up  to  the  mark  is  proved  by  the  fruits  always 
fetching  top  prices  when  sent  to  Covent  Garden.  The  house  under 
notice  is  50  yards  long  by  4  yards  wide,  and  contains  upwards  of 
forty  trees  in  about  thirty  varieties.  This  number  is,  however,  being 
gradually  reduced,  and  those  only  are  being  retained  that  produce 
fruits  of  high  colour  and  good  size,  these  being  the  objects  aimed  at, 
as  the  fruits  are  grown  for  sale,  when  of  course  something  to  attract 
the  eye  must  be  offered.  Amongst  the  favourite  Peaches  are  Belle- 
garde,  Crimson  Galande,  Stirling  Castle,  Violette  Hfitive,  with  Barrington 
and  Sea  Eagle  for  late  use.  Of  the  Nectarines  Stanwick  Elruge, 
Dryden,  and  Lord  Napier  are  chiefly  relied  upon.  The  trees  are  trained 
to  trellises,  back  to  back  across  the  house,  as  well  as  on  the  back  wall, 
all  the  space  being  fully  occupied.  Only  four  years  ago  the  trees  were 
infected  with  “  yellows,”  but  now  no  trace  can  be  seen  of  the  pest  in 
the  green  leaves  and  hard,  thoroughly  ripened  wood.  Another  structure 
for  the  same  fruits  is  now  being  erected,  and  the  same  system  of  culture 
and  planting  will  be  followed.  _____ 
The  plant  houses  are  stocked  with  a  very  miscellaneous  collection  of 
plants,  many  of  which,  especially  Orchids,  have  been  brought  home  at 
