October  31,  1901. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
401 
Smoke  Sumach  ('Rhus  cotinus)  recently  figured  in  the  Journal. 
So  varied  and  numerous  are  the  kinds  of  Conifers  and  other 
ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  forming  the  wide  belting  in  ques¬ 
tion,  that  a  detailed  description  would  furnish  an  article  alone  of 
their  respective  attributes.  A  notable  feature,  however,  is 
worthy  of  remark  ere  leaving  this  portion  of  the  grounds,  and 
that  is,  there  is  no  semblance  of  a  gravel  walk  intervening 
between  the  lawn  and  the  bordering  of  trees  and  shrubs  in  ques¬ 
tion,  but  instead,  a  walk  is  conducted  in  a  tortuous  line  through 
the  collection  of  trees,  from  which  views  of  the  house  and  sur¬ 
roundings  are  here  and  there  obtained.  The  idea  is  well  worthy 
of  adoption  by  intending  planters.  Extensive  views  of  the 
country  around  is  obtained  from  the  upper  windows  of  the  house. 
In  close  proximity  to  the  drawing  room  side  of  the  house  are  two 
remarkably  fine  specimens  of  Taxus  adpressa,  each  about  25 
yards  in  circumference,  and  about  9ft  high.  Close  by  there 
is  a  magnificent  high  and  wide  Holly  hedge,  which  separates  the 
grounds  from  another  field  belonging  to  the  estate,  and  it  ex¬ 
tends  for  about  150  yards  in  a  downhill  direction  lodgewards. 
The  Wood  with  Ferns. 
Leaving  the  foregoing  terraced  pleasaunce  by  a  short  winding 
path  through  a  shrubbery  of  Rhododendrons,  we  cross  the  drive, 
and  at  once  enter  into  what  was,  thirty-five  years  ago,  a  barren 
waste ;  but  it  afforded  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the  exercise 
of  Mr.  Antrobus’  landscape  proclivities.  This  portion  of  the 
grounds,  or  semi-wild  garden,  is  separated  from  Chester  Road 
by  a  high  brick  wall  extending  to  a  distance  of  about  250  yards 
from  the  lodge  entrance,  and  parallel  with  it,  in  close  contiguity, 
there  is  a  closely  planted  row  of  tall  trees,  principally  Beech  and 
Birch  alternately.  This  forms  an  effective  screen  from  public 
view  of  the  grounds  inside.  This  row  of  trees  forms  half  of  the 
grass-walked  avenue  which  runs  the  whole  length  of  the  wall, 
the  counter  row  being  composed  of  such  trees  as  copper-coloured 
Beech,  Weeping  Birch,  and  tall  Austrian  Pines.  Tall  growing, 
hardy  Ferns  adorn  the  sides  of  the  walk,  while  Irish  Ivy  mantles 
the  walk.  Altogether,  this  long  and  shady  vista,  when  enveloped 
in  its  summer  garb,  presents  a  most  strikingly  grand  appearance, 
and  serves  as  a  prefiguration  of  undisclosed  other  sylvan  scenes. 
,  Cedrus  atlantica. 
Yellow  fruited  variegated  Holly.  Abies  pungens  glauea.  Cupressus  Lawsoniana  lutea. 
aiibokeAl  wealth  at  fern  wood. 
It  forms  an  efficient  barrier  to  the  east  winds,  and  shelter  to  the 
well-kept  gravel  walk  inside. 
One  considerable  portion  of  this  estate  is  assigned  to  the 
culture  of  fruit  and  vegetables,  comprising  quarters  that  are 
subtlely  bordered  with  ornamental  trees,  dwarf  hedges,  flowers, 
<fec.,  while  other  terraces  are  devoted  to  dwarf  trees  and  shrubs, 
the  plateaus,  so  to  speak,  being  variously  divided  by  grass  or  gravel 
walks.  Swamp  Oaks,  Japanese  Acers,  Ghent  Azaleas,  dwarf  Coni¬ 
fers,  and  a  host  of  other  ornamental  shrubs  and  plants  too  nume¬ 
rous  to  mention,  afford  a  continuous  feast  to  the  eye  of  the  visitor. 
The  too  little  known  Spindle  .Tree  (Euonymus  europseus  lati- 
folius),  with  its  beauteous  crimson  carpels,  in  long,  pendant, 
axillary  clusters,  and  purple-tinted,  dark  green  leaves,  does 
splendidly  at  Fern  wood.  Two  very  fine  specimens  of  the  Dovas- 
ton  Yew  (Taxus  Dovastonii)  are  here  also  to  be  seen,  while  at 
the  extreme  lower  end  of  the  garden  is  a  long  line  of  Welling- 
tonia  trees  bordering  a  walk,  and  their  tall  boles  are  kept  branch¬ 
less  in  imitation  of  Scotch  Pine  trees,  and  so  as  to  afford  a  con¬ 
trast  to  the  row  of  elegant  specimens  of  Pinus  excelsa  behind 
them.  Many  of  the  Conifers  and  other  trees  and  shrubs  were 
introduced  here  in  a  small  state  from  the  nurseries  of  Mr. 
Antrobus’  intimate  old  friend,  the  late  Mr.  Holmes,  of  Hands- 
worth,  Sheffield,  as  also  from  other  sources. 
Intervening  between  the  foregoing  and  the  lower  side  of  the  forest- 
wooded  hill  above  is  a  broad  dell-like  space  of  ground,  which  has 
been  planted  with  a  large  variety  of  ornamental  flowering  and 
other  shrubs  and  trees. 
Love  Of  the  Songsters. 
We  have  already  alluded  to  the  artificial  aviaries,  but  in  the 
“  wilds,”  by  the  fringes  of  this  avenue,  is  Nature’s  abode  for  the 
feathered  denizens  of  the  field  and  the  forest,  and  to  invite  their 
welcome  presence  numerous  artificial  nests  have  been  fixed  high 
on  the  trees.  The  dense  tree  tops  afford  a  roosting  resort  for 
hundreds  of  appreciative  songsters,  and  others  of  the  genus  Avis, 
during  their  nocturnal  rest.  One  of  the  greatest  pleasures  in 
the  daily  life  of  their  loving  caretaker  is  in  early  morning  to 
stroll  through  the  intricate  paths  of  the  grove,  or  recline  upon  a 
favourite  rustic  seat  enjoying  his  daily  solitary  briar  pipeful  of 
the  “  fragrant  weed,”  whilst  listening  to  their  familiar  chatter, 
or  in  the  eventide  to  watch  their  arrival  to  the  wooded  sanctuary. 
Much  more  could  be  descanted  .upon  Fernwood  besides  what  I 
have  already  written ;  but  to  furnish  an  adequate  description  or 
picture  of  the  estate  would  require  the  brush  and  palette  of  a 
Claude,  a  Gainsborough,  or  the  pen  of  a  Ruskin. — William 
Gardiner. 
