JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
227 
Suj'litiinwnt  In 
March  12,  1903. 
along  with  it  is  the  gorgeous  East  Indian  flower,  Gloriosa 
superba.  Gloxinias  find  favour,  and  Adiantums  are  not 
overlooked,  the  elegant  Farleyense  being  ably  managed. 
Palms  for  decorative  uses  are  included,  and  so,  too,  is 
Asparagus  Sprengeri  and  other  similar  subjects.  Since  the 
return  of  the  Earl  and  his  family  these  plants  will  doubtless 
be  largely  in  request. 
Indoor  fruit  is  of  merit  all  round.  Lady  Downe’s  Grape 
is  a  prime  favourite,  and  as  Mr.  Smith  proposed  to  confine 
his  houses  chiefly  to  one  variety  each,  this  one  would  find 
early  choice.  Black  Alicante  and  Black  Hamburgh  of 
course  were  regarded  as  indispensable,  and  Madresfield 
Court  cannot  be  substituted.  West’s  St.  Peter’s,  with  Gros 
Colman,  Diamond  Jubilee,  and  Grizzly  Frontignan  are 
others  that  are  here.  On  the  back  wall  of  one  of  the 
vineries  were  plants  of  the  Guava  in  fruit.  Most  or  all  of 
the  Vines  have  been,  and  are  still  according  to  require¬ 
ments,  raised  within  the  gardens.  The  Vines  were  a  most 
creditable  collection. 
Peaches  and  Nectarines  are  carefully  selected,  the  chief 
being  Royal  George,  Sea  Eagle,  Noblesse,  Early  Rivers, 
Sfcirliug  Castle,  Salwey,  Barringtou,  Princess  of  Wales, 
Violet  Hative,  and  Pineapple,  and  of  Melons  two  that  were 
raised  here,  and  bear  respectively  the  titles  Earl  of  Hope- 
toun  and  Countess  of  Hopetoun,  are  much  in  evidence, 
together  with  William  Tillery  and  Little  Heath.  Cucum¬ 
bers  and  Tomatoes  have  houses  to  themselves,  and  among 
the  latter  we  find  the  predominant  sorts  to  be  Stirling 
Castle,  Laird’s  Supreme,  Golden  Nugget,  and  Frogmore 
Scarlet. 
The  Rose  garden  lies  on  a  slope,  and  takes  the  place  of 
the  formal  flower  garden  which  is  illustrated  on  page  224. 
The  beds  are  of  different  forms,  and  laid  out  in  grass,  and 
the  massive  grouping  furnishes  a  brilliant,  satisfying  colour- 
scheme.  This  new  garden  has  been  completed  during  the 
last  eighteen  months.  It  was  also  proposed  to  stem  the 
stream  at  the  foot  of  this  rosery  slope,  to  form  a  lakelet  for 
Water  Lilies.  The  suggestion  is  enchanting,  and  what 
chances  lie  hei'e  for  an  extension  of  the  ornamental  side  of 
gardening ! — the  ground  sloping  off  on  either  side  like  the 
pages  of  a  half-opened  book,  and  borders  of  old-fashioned 
(as  well  as  new)  herbaceous  plants,  including  masses  of 
Lavender  and  beds  of  Thyme,  appearing  all  round !  The 
long  borders  of  hardy  herbaceous  perennials  furnish  one  of 
the  distinctive  features  of  the  garden,  and  I  do  not  forget  tin 
bold  lines  of  brilliant  Phloxes,  the  modest  Tradescantias, 
the  Golden-rods,  and  the  sprightly  Astrantias,  which, are 
only  a  few  from  amongst  a  host.  The  air  wafts  full  of  scent, 
and  the  scene  is  deeply  peaceful :  nothing  is  wanting — save 
a  sundial.  We  have  “the  broad  green  walks,”  and  the 
chimes  of  an  evening  bell  striking  the  quarter-hour  from  a 
clock  by  the  mansion,  comes  thrill-ly  floating  through  wood 
and  park  to  “the  midst  of  the  garden,”  and  vibratingly 
melts  aw'ay  into  the  southern  woods.  But  now  a  greater 
hush  enshrouds  this  place  of  content,  and  as  the  shadows 
deepen  around  the  fruitful  walls,  and  the  last  piping  notes 
of  the  mavis  more  clearly  start  the  responsive  echoes,-  we 
bid  farewell.  The  stately  Hopetoun  of  three  hundred 
years,  with  its  noble  heritage  of  famous  history  and  mag¬ 
nificent  bequeathment  of  Nature’s  excellencies,  arises  still 
to-day  with  a  splendour  yet  enhanced  ;  and  long,  for  the 
good  of  the  land,  do  we  pray  that  our  ancient  families  may 
respond  to  the  duties  involved  in  their  birthrights,  and 
maintain  the  lustre  of  their  names  and  domains,  that  we  of 
an  Imperial  race  for  ages  yet  may  reverently,  justly,  proudly 
praise  the  stately  homes  of  our  island  realm. — J.  H.  D. 
MarJBKt 
r  A  V 
.  '  a)"  ‘ 
A'  ^ 
J 
“  Give  me  axjain  my  hoUoiv  tree. 
A  crust  of  hreod,  and  Jihcrtij.  " 
Winter  view  in  Hopetoun  Park. 
