September  30,  1897 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
315 
HALTON. 
A  SIMPLE  heading  tor  an  article  is  this,  but  it  is  one  which  is,  from 
the  horticultural  aspect,  instinct  with  material  for  the  penman.  All 
phases  of  gardening  are  carried  out  at  Halton  on  a  very  wide  scale — indeed, 
in  some  departments  it  somewhat  resembles  a  market  growing  establish¬ 
ment,  so  enormous  are  its  stocks  of  plants.  The  maintenance  of  such  an 
estate  in  the  best  possible  style  is  worthy  the  reputation  of  its  owner, 
Alfred  de  Kothschild,  Esq.,  whose  interest  in  horticultural  and  kindred 
subjects  is  well  known  and  appreciated  by  gardeners.  This  interest, 
it  may  be  added,  is  not  confined  to  this  one  member  of  the  family,  for 
Lord  de  Eothschild,  of  Tring  ;  Baron  Ferdinand  de  Rothschild,  of 
Waddesden  iManor  ;  and  Leopold  de  Rothschild,  Esq.,  of  Ascott,  are 
also  supporters  of  the  craft.  For  confirmation  of  this  one  has  but  to  visit 
the  gardens  of  either  of  the  residences  mentioned,  for  each  is  distinguisl^ed 
for  its  excellences  in  some  one  or  other  department. 
But  beyond  this  these  gentlemen  to  show  how  friendly  they  are  to 
horticulture  and  horticulturists,  and  though  not  strictly  in  place  in  a  few 
notes  on  Halton,  the  reference  will,  we  hope,  be  pardoned.  It  is  to  their 
connection  with  the  Gardeners’  Royal  Benevolent  Institution  that  we 
would  refer.  For  years  their  support  has  been  constant,  and  has  been 
afforded  with  that  absence  of  ostentation  which  renders  the  most  graceful 
act  more  graceful  stiU.  Now  it  is  good  news  to  know  that  the  Hon. 
Walter  de  Rothschild  has  taken  the  trusteeship  rendered  vacant  by  the 
death  of  Dr.  Hogg,  while  Lord  de  Rothschild  is  a  vice-president  of  the 
Institution.  They  are  men  of  wealth,  but  what  is  often  even  more 
important  to  a  society  of  this  nature,  they  are  men  of  business,  and  their 
judgment  of  financial  matters  will  be  of  the  utmost  value.  The  Society, 
largely  owing  to  the  untiring  efforts  of  Mr.  Harry  J.  Veitch  and  i\Ir,  G.  J. 
Ingram,  has  always  been  prosperous,  but  we  hope  that  the  Jubilee  year 
will  be  the  dawn  of  now  era  of  greater  brightness  and  wider  usefulness 
than  any  the  past  has  seen.  Gardeners  ought  to  know  their  duty  in  this 
direction,  for  they  have  been  shown  the  Institution’s  usefulness  times 
without  number,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  they  do  not  all  do  it  as  it  should  be 
done. 
But  we  must  return  to  our  proper  subject  now  or  we  shall  inevitably 
miss  much  that  is  worthy  of  being  chronicled  in  the  pages  of  the  .Toux’nal. 
It  is  not  the  first  time,  nor,  it  is  hoped,  will  it  be  the  last,  that  references 
have  been  made  to  this  beautiful  home,  but  too  much  can  never  be  said  in 
the  limits  of  two  or  three  columns  of  type  about  such  a  garden.  Then, 
with  the  aid  of  the  camera,  we  can  present  different  features  that  the  pen 
could  never  paint,  even  in  the  most  skilful  hand — but  of  these  pictures 
more  will  be  said  a  little  later,  when  in  fact  we  reach  them  on  our  tour  of 
inspection  with  Mr.  R.  C.  Sanders,  the  gardener  in  chief.  A  quiet,  unas¬ 
suming  man  is  our  guide,  but  a  thorough  gardener.  He  has  a  responsible 
charge,  and  he  looks  after  it  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and  only  a  cursory 
glance  is  needed  to  show  that  his  knowledge  and  perseverance  are  of  the 
highest.  Every  possible  thing  seems  to  be  done  that  wiU  tend  to  the  credit 
of  the  gentleman  by  whom  he  is  employed,  to  the  estate,  or  to  himself. 
On  the  occasion  of  a  previous  visit  to  Halton  the  journey  was  made 
via  Euston  and  Tring,  but  acting  on  Mr.  Sanders’  advice  the  Baker  Street 
and  Wendover  route  was  chosen  this  time.  The  change  was  a  pleasant 
one,  the  earlier  portion  being  interesting  by  reason  of  the  laying  of  the 
new  Central  Railway,  while  further  on  some  charming  country  was 
])as3ed,  affording  fine  views  over  hills  and  through  fertile  valleys. 
Detraining  at  Wendover,  we  found  our  host  waiting,  and  were  quickly 
making  our  way  to  our  destination,  not  by  the  nearest  road,  but  by  one 
which  took  us  over  and  round  the  hills.  The  major  portion  of  the 
distance  was  traversed  on  the  grass  drives  that  are  so  abundant  on  the 
estate,  and  through  the  woods,  with  which  the  hill  sides  are  clad. 
Magnificent  vistas  were  enjoyed  through  the  trees  every  now  and  again, 
one  of  them  showing  the  mansion  of  Halton  lying  many  scores  of  feet 
beneath.  From  there  the  house  looked  very  handsome,  and  was 
apparently  quite  in  a  valley,  but  later  in  the  day,  when  we  were  on 
the  main  road,  a  glimpse  proved  to  us  that  it  stood  many  feet  above  the 
normal  level.  _ 
But  the  finest  view  obtained  was  one  from  a  broad  table  land,  over¬ 
looking  the  V ale  of  Aylesbury,  with  its  fertile  fields  and  winding  streams. 
On  the  one  hand  was  the  town  of  Aylesbury,  while  on  the  other  Tring 
could  be  seen,  both  several  miles  away.  Carrying  the  eye  right  beyond 
the  valley  to  the  range  of  hills  we  could  see  the  mansion  of  Waddesden, 
just  the  smallest  bit  of  Mentmore  and  the  i)osition  of  Ascott  was  pointed 
out  as  in  a  Ijig  clump  of  trees.  It  was  a  most  beautiful  scene,  at  least  for 
those  eyes  that  admire  the  simple  beauty  of  Nature.  There  were  no 
rugged  features  observable— the  panorama  was  one  of  trees,  fields, 
streams,  homesteads,  here  in  clusters  and  there  standing  alone,  with  the  | 
towns  named  above,  several  churches,  and  on  every  side  hills,  which  may 
as  a  whole  be  described  as  essentially  English.  The  hill  on  which  we 
stood  was  of  chalk,  which  could  be  seen  glistening  through  its  crust  of 
soil ;  in  the  valley,  and  occasionally  on  the  hills,  it  was  noticeable  that 
the  ground  was  of  a  different  and  far  more  fertile  character.  There  was 
a  descent  by  grass  drives,  but  we  chose  a  fresh  road  that  took  us  outside 
the  gates  to  re-enter  again  near  the  mansion. 
On  entering  the  park  there  was  a  notable  change  in  the  character  of 
the  surroundings.  Here  the  trees  and  shrubs  looked  to  have  been  better 
tended,  and  were  gi’owing  in  more  congenial  soil.  Without  the  herbage 
in  places  had  been  scant,  though  in  others  it  was  singularly  luxuriant. 
No  pause  was  made  now  at  the  mansion,  but  our  course  was  continued 
until  the  gardens  were  reached,  where  we  alighted  to  perform  the 
remainder  of  our  tour  on  foot.  Quickly  making  our  way  to  the  gardens, 
we  were  passing  through  house  after  house  filled  to  overflowing  with 
thousands  of  plants  of  almost  all  kinds  and  sizes  such  as  are  useful  for 
house  decoration.  None  was  very  large,  such  not  being  required,  but 
all  were  healthy.  However,  we  may  give  a  brief  paragraph  to  each  of 
the  departments  ere  turning  to  the  pleasure  grounds,  the  Italian  garden, 
and  the  conservatory.  _ 
The  number  of  plants  grown  in  6-inch  and  smaller  pots  is  nothing 
short  of  stupendous,  house  after  house  being  completely  filled  with  them. 
Thousands  of  Crotons  in  a  small  state  are  to  be  seen,  and  as  they  are  all 
young  they  have  a  pleasing  fresh  appearance,  while  the  colour  develop¬ 
ment  is  remarkable.  Immediately  one  of  these  is  observed  to  be  past  its 
best  the  top  is  taken  off  and  inserted  in  cocoa-nut  fibre  refuse  in  a  warm 
propagating  pit,  where  new  roots  are  quickly  emitted  and  a  young  plant 
soon  formed.  Dracaenas,  especially  Lindeni,  are  lai'gely  utilised  for  the 
same  purpose,  as  are  Caladiums,  of  which  the  collection  is  very  fine.  It 
is  a  matter  for  regret  that  these  plants  with  their  chastely  hued  and 
delicately  veined  leaves  do  not  last  longer  in  good  condition  when 
employed  for  decoration.  IMany  of  the  Palms  are  much  larger,  but 
there  are  very  few  of  any  considerable  size.  Ferns,  of  course,  come 
in  for  a  goodly  share  of  attention,  for  their'  graceful  fronds  could 
scarcely  be  dispensed  with.  There  are  other  foliage  plants,  but  these 
form  the  bulk  of  the  stock,  and  the  names  of  the  others  will  readily  occur 
to  readers. 
When  mention  is  made  of  flowering  plants  under  glass  the  place  of 
honour  must  be  accorded  to  the  Carnations,  of  which  something- 
approaching  6000  are  grown  in  pots.  These  comprise  perpetual  flowering- 
varieties  largely  ;  but,  as  is  well  known,  Malmaisons  are  by  no  means 
neglected.  Unfortunately,  these  have  the  disease  amongst  them,  and 
Mr.  Sanders  is  wisely  reducing  the  stock  with  a  view  to  a  fresh  start  with 
clean  plants.  The  healthy  condition  of  the  others,  both  in  houses  and 
frames,  is  very  mai'ked  indeed,  and  it  is  almost  superfluous  to  say  that 
flowers  are  always  to  be  had.  Brightly  coloured  varieties  largely  prepon¬ 
derate,  as  these  are  the  favourites  with  ilr.  Rothschild,  whose  admiration 
for  Carnations  is  very  decided.  Anthuriums,  with  their  scarlet  spathes, 
are  popular  at  Halton,  and  claim  a  large  amount  of  space  in  the  houses. 
Their  showiness  insures  them  a  welcome  in  such  bold  and  effective  deco¬ 
rations  as  are  carried  out.  Cannas,  again,  are  there  in  numbers,  as 
are  many  other  plants  of  which  specific  mention  need  not  be  made. 
Out  of  doors  in  the  gardens  in  which  the  glass  structures  are  situated 
there  are  many  borders,  and  a  few  beds  to  be  seen  occupied  with  hardy 
flowers  of  much  beauty.  There  are  Gladioli,  Asters,  Sweet  Peas,  Zinnias, 
with  several  others  that  are  useful  for  cutting.  One  of  the  most  charming 
borders  was  a  narrow  one  at  the  side  of  a  house,  it  being  full  of  Belladonna 
Lilies  flowering  superblj'.  Chrysanthemums  must  of  course  have  a  place, 
and  that  they  are  well  grown  is  proved  by  their  present  condition.  There 
are  many  of  the  dwarf  early  varieties  in  pots  in  flower  in  the  houses,  but 
of  course  the  major  portion  of  the  plants  are  cultivated  for  later  use,  and 
were  stood  on  a  border  outdoors  when  this  visit  was  paid,  presenting  a 
handsome  appearance.  The  wood  and  foliage  were  clean  and  healthy. 
Though  all  kinds  of  fruits  are  to  be  seen  under  glass— -that  is  to  say,  aU 
that  are  commonly  cultivated  under  these  condition.s.  Figs  and  Cherries 
are  the  only  two  for  which  the  owner  has  any  decided  partiality.  Such 
being  the  case,  the  seasons  of  these  are  extended  to  the  utmost,  and  of  the 
former  there  are  fruits  during  the  majority  of  the  months  of  the  year. 
The  conditions  are  not  of  the  most  favourable,  but  tbe  results  are  very 
praiseworthy.  The  Cherry  house  is  occupied  with  rather  old  trees 
trained  on  trellises  beneath  the  roof  glass  on  each  side  of  a  span-roofed 
structure,  and  these  by  careful  attention  annually  produce  splendid  crops 
of  fruit.  Peaches  and  Nectarines,  w-ith  Grapes  and  Melons,  are  all  to  be 
seen.  The  vineries  are  being  thorougbly  renovated  in  turn,  new  borders 
are  to  be  formed  for  the  reception  of  the  roots,  and  it  is  confidently 
anticipated  that  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  the  Grapes  will  be  better  in 
appearance  as  well  as  in  quality  than  they  have  for  some  years  past. 
Although  Tomatoes  and  Cucumbers  are  not  usually  considered  under 
the  head  of  fruits,  they  are  now  thus  briefly  referred  to  ere  we  turn 
our  thoughts  to  the  several  things  that  have  yet  to  be  seen  out  of  doors. 
The  large  vegetable  garden,  with  its  broad  grass  walks,  is  extremely 
interesting  to  anyone  with  a  predilection  towards  the  examination  of  good 
