tiiFi  to 
l'J4  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE 
vast  numbers,  and  in  almost  all  stages,  but  the  veterans  that  have 
suffered  from  the  hands  of  time  take  the  lion’s  share  of  admiration. 
Mims,  too,  are  splendid,  as  are  various  Conifers  with  Cedars,  in 
exceptional  form.  It  is  useless  pretending  to  give  lists  of  names  in 
notes  of  this  nature,  as  if  such  were  done  the  whole  available  space 
would  be  occupied  by  them  alone,  to  the  exclusion  of  items  that  are 
certainly,  from  every  point  of  view,  more  interesting.  Destined  to 
stilt  further  eidtance  the  interest  of  the  estate  are  the  Abies  glauca, 
planted  respeotively  by  the  Prince  and  Princess  of  Wales,  Princess 
Victoria  of  Wales,  and  Princess  Charles  of  Denmark  on  the  occasion  of 
a  visit  in  November  of  1896. 
Perhaps  the  most  advantageous  place  at  which  to  commence  will 
be  the  palace,  whence  may  be  obtained  views  that  are  charmingly 
diversified  and  yet  simple.  The  principal  entrance  faces  the  north, 
and  from  beneath  the  noble  Corinthian  columns  that  support  the 
massive  mason'-y  can  be  seen  the  monument  towering  to  a  height  of 
upwards  of  134  feet,  that  was  erected  to  the  memory  of  the  conqueror 
of  Ramillies,  Oiuh  narde,  and  Malpla(iuet.  This,  similar  to  the 
mansion,  stands  on  an  eminence.  In  the  valley  between  is  a  portion 
of  the  lake  spanned  by  the  grand  bridge  that  is  about  135  yards 
in  length,  and  of  proportionate  width.  From  the  south  front,  where 
are  situated  some  of  the  state  apartments  looking  over  an  expanse  of 
lawn  that  has  an  area  of  25  acres,  and  to  pastoral  scenery  beyond, 
the  eye  finds  the  tower  of  Bladon  Church  in  the  distance.  On  the 
east  lies  the  Italian  garden,  and  on  the  west  the  ground  falls  to  the 
lake  with  Rosamond’s  Bower  to  the  right,  and  the  pleasure  grounds 
on  both  sides  ot  the  water,  as  well  as  the  cascade  on  the  left. 
The  Italian  (farden,  to  which  cursory  reference  has  just  been  made, 
is  very  extensive,  and  must,  when  occupied  with  plants  in  the  summer, 
present  a  gorgeous  display.  Of  course,  just  at  present  it  is  practically 
empty,  but  an  earnest  of  what  was  to  come  was  seen  in  the  thorough 
preparation  that  the  beds  were  undergoing.  The  design  is  for  the 
maintenance  ot  its  character  strictly  formal,  and  this  is  still  more 
accentuated  by  the  style  of  planting  that  is  adopted.  No  mixing  is 
allowed,  but  masses  of  distinct  colours  are  formed  with  various  suit¬ 
able  plants,  which  must  obviously  be  provided  in  enormous  numbers. 
The  whole  garden  is  sunk  beneath  the  normal  level,  the  sides  being  of 
closely  mown  thick  turf.  There  are  a  few  clipped  shrubs  here  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  garden,  but  these  are  not  sufficient  in  numf  ers  to 
form  a  feature  or  to  warrant  any  reproach  as  to  mutilation.  To  the  right 
of  the  garden,  as  seen  in  the  photographic  illustration  (fig.  46),  is  a 
long  conservatory-like  corridor  stocked  with  large  Palms.  This  struc¬ 
ture  has  seen  at  least  three  changes,  for,  while  originally  erected  for 
plants,  it  subsequently  became  a  theatre,  and  has  now  been  reconverted 
to  a  plant  house.  _ 
A  strikingly  handsome  system  of  planting  large  beds  is  adopted, 
and  it  is  a  method  that  cannot  fail  to  meet  with  general  appreciation. 
It  has  bf^en  very  strongly  advocated  from  time  to  time  in  the  pages  of 
the  Journal  of  IIortictiHure,  and  consists  in  having  huge  masses  of 
one  kind  of  plant  conspicuous  for  its  foliage  or  the  colour  of  its  wood 
or  its  flowers,  as  the  case  may  be.  Nowhere  better  than  in  an 
estate  of  the  magnitude  of  Blenheim  could  the  method  be  exemplified, 
and  the  clumps  of  Golden  Yew,  Prunus  Pissardi,  and  Golden  Privet, 
to  mention  three  only  as  examydes,  are  splendid.  Seen  from  a  dis¬ 
tance,  the  rich  yellow  of  the  last-named  looks  like  a  sheet  of  gold, 
while  closer  approach  shows  the  dark  stems  of  the  Prunus  in  the 
foreground.  In  various  suitable  positions  these  are  found,  and  in  each 
instance  the  effect  striven  for  has  been  secured.  At  no  one  time  are 
the  whole  of  them  at  their  best,  but  they  follow  in  rapid  succession  to 
form  the  cycle  of  the  year,  fl’he  American  Garden,  of  days  goi.e  by, 
with  its  Rhododendrons  and  Azaleas,  has  now  been  almo.'t  exclusively 
planted  in  the  manner  described. 
The  lake  is  a  magnificent  sheet  of  water,  which  was,  as  Mr.  Jefferies 
has  already  stated,  thoroughly  cleansed  some  time  back.  Its  banks  are 
clothed  in  verdure,  trees  and  shrubs  making  permanent  ornaments, 
ft  is  near  its  margins  that  are  seen  some  splendid  Cedars,  and  liere  and 
there  a  Taxodium  distichum  rears  its  stately  head.  Even  now  before 
the  buds  have  expanded  this  portion  of  the  pleasure  grounds  is  moat 
charming  though  not  so  much  so  as  wlnn  the  trees  will  all  be  bur.-ting 
into  leaf  or  later  when  the  tints  of  autumn  herald  the  approach  of 
winter.  Thousands  of  Daffodds  are  pushing  through  the  grass  of  the 
banks,  and  will  ere  long  adorn  the  green  carpet  as  with  a  cloth  of  gold. 
This  is  a  most  commendable  practice,  and  one  that,  though  it  is 
growing  in  popularity,  ought  still  to  have  considerably  more  aitenti'  n. 
One  of  the  attractions  tint  has  yet  to  come  is  now  being  established, 
and  consists  of  the  es'ablishment  of  a  collection  of  the  best  hybrid 
Nymphseas  in  the  .shallows  of  the  waterside.  These,  it  is  confidently 
anticipated,  will  eventually  make  a  superb  display,  though  we  ques¬ 
tion  if  it  will  ever  be  more  imposing  than  the  masses  of  white  Lilies 
lower  down  the  expanse  of  water. 
AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER.  March  9,  i899. 
Travelling  now  along  the  banks,  crossing  the  water  at  one  place,, 
passing  the  cascade  and  re-crossing,  we  proceed  again  towards  the 
gardens  as  distinct  from  the  pleasure  grounds.  This  is  no  short 
journey  or  an  easy  one,  for  slopes  of  sharp  gradient  have  to  be  nego¬ 
tiated  and  winding  paths  of  grass  and  gravel  to  be  followed.  A  Rose 
garden  en  route  claims  a  brief  glance  in  passing,  and  its  hundreds  of  plants 
would  certainly  produce  an  enormous  number  of  flower.s,  but  for  one 
thing.  It  is  unfortunately  encircled  by  large  trees,  and,  these  being 
in  close  proximity,  must  send  their  roots  beneath  the  Roses  and  rob- 
them  of  food  while  the  branches  above  will  deprive  them  of  light  and 
air,  that  Roses,  of  all  plants,  appreciate  in  abundance.  This  will 
militate  against  the  best  success,  which  is  a  matter  for  regret  when 
such  care  has  been  taken  in  the  planting  of  good  stock.  Teas, 
Hybrid  Teas,  and  Hybrid  Perpetuals  are  all  largely  represented  by 
the  best  varieties.  In  another  position,  an  arch  of  Crimson  Rambler 
and  Clematis  has  been  formed,  which,  when  the  plants  are  established,, 
will  be  a  gorgeous  sight.  _ 
A  few  years  back,  during  the  time  of  the  late  duke,  the 
collection  of  Orchids  was  one  of  the  most  renowned  in  the  kingdom, 
and  when,  seme  six  years  ago,  the  stock  was  sold  it  became  distributed 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land,  to  the  enrichment  of 
many  an  orchidist’s  structures.  In  those  days  house  after  house  con¬ 
tained  nothing  but  Orchids — not  in  ones  or  twos  but  in  hundreds  of  a 
kind  To-day,  though  Orchids  are  present,  it  is  in  comparatively  limited 
numbers,  other  plants  calling  for  a  share  of  attention.  This  is,  perhaps, 
better.  At  any  rate,  it  lends  wider  interest  to  the  place,  lor  whereas 
in  bygone  days  only  the  Orchid  enthusiast  felt  at  home,  the  gene.-al 
plant  lover  may  find  abundance  to  interest  him  in  Blenheim  gardens. 
Carnations  everywhere  is  the  conclusion  reached  when  the  houses 
and  frames  have  been  seen.  These  plants  are  grown  in  thousands,  and 
are  represented  from  the  cutting  in  a  “  thumb  ”  to  the  specimen  that 
requires  a  12-inch  pot  for  the  accommodation  of  its  roots.  We  look 
in  vain  for  signs  of  the  dreaded  disease,  and,  needless  to  say,  Mr. 
Whillans  has  no  wish  that  it  should  visit  Blenheim.  There  are  flowers 
in  numbers  on  the  healthy  plants,  and  Duchess  Consuelo,  the  handsome 
yellow,  is  practically  always  in  flower.  Closely  following  the  Carnation 
for  popularity  come  the  Roses,  of  which  about  3000  plants  are  culti¬ 
vated  in  pots,  and  rarely,  indeed,  can  such  a  collection  be  seen  in  a 
similarly  excellent  state  of  health  and  cleanliness.  Flowers  sweet  in 
peifume  and  rich  in  colour  are  always  to  be  had,  and,  of  course,  during 
the  winter  months  find  high  appreciation.  Naturally  enough  all  kinds 
of  plants  are  cultivated,  and  almost  invariably  in  large  numbers,  but 
it  is  unnecessary  to  give  details  of  them.  However,  the  Cyclamens- 
are  worthy  a  special  note,  as  they  are  so  magnificently  flowered 
and  carry  splendidly  marbled  leaves.  Chrysanthemums,  too,  in  the 
infantile  stage  are  abundantly  in  evidence,  and  will  do  their  share 
towards  the  floral  display  in  the  autumn. 
Other  structures  are  necessarily  devoted  to  Vines,  Peaches  and 
Nectarines,  Figs,  Melons,  Cucumbers,  Tomatoes  and  Kidney  Beans,, 
and  in  each  instance  it  is  easy  to  see  that  sound  cultuial  methods 
are  adopted.  Under  no  circumstances  could  the  importance  of 
scrupulous  cleanliness  be  better  illustrated  than  by  a  visit  to 
Blenheim  Gardens.  It  will  there  be  found  to  reign  supreme  over 
everything,  and  to  this  fact  doubtless  may  largely  be  ascribed  the 
excellent  state  of  health  which  shines  forth  in  all  plants  alike, 
whether  they  be  grown  for  their  foliage,  flowers,  or  fruits.  Not 
only  within  doors  is  the  fruit  eminently  satisfactory,  but  also  on  the 
walls  surrounding  the  gardens.  These  have  almost  wholly  been, 
clothed  by  the  present  garden,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  few  very 
old  trees  they  are  well  nigh  ])erfect.  The  wood  is  clean  and  sound,, 
and  such  as  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  give  remunerative 
returns  to  the  grower.  The  vegetable  garden,  which  covers  an  area 
of  about  12  acre.-,  is  not  stocked  as  it  will  be  later  in  the  year,  but  it 
is  a  department  that  is  accorded  the  same  attention  as  is  given  to  all 
the  ethers.  Broad  borders  of  herbaceous  plants  cross  and  recross 
the  garden,  and  will  adorn  it  with  brightly  hued  flowers  throughout 
the  major  portion  of  the  year. 
Though  it  cannot  be  said  that  all  the  features  of  Blenheim  have 
been  adverted  to,  it  is  necessary  to  draw  these  notes  to  a  close.  There 
are  many  other  aspects  equally  meritorious  that  could,  and  perhaps 
ought  to  have  been  incorporated  ;  but  these  must  stay  for  a  later 
day.  The  bothy,  for  example,  is  a  model  structure  that  alone  is- 
worlhy  of  description  and  illustration  if  space  were  at  command. 
Now  we  leave  them,  as  we  found  them,  in  the  care  of  Mr.  Whillans, 
to  whose  industry  and  energy  the  estate  owes  so  much  for  its  present 
interest  and  beauty.  It  is  a  palatial  home,  and  it  is  pleasing  to  be- 
able  to  place  on  record  that  the  efforts  of  both  the  Duke  and  Duchess- 
of  Marlborough  tend  not  towards  its  maintenance  alone,  but  also  to- 
its  improvement. — H.  J.  Wkight. 
