554 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  25,  1903. 
found  to  consist  largely  of  particles  of  vegetable  matter,  v'hicli 
have  been  carried  by  the  wind,  caught,  and  held  fast  by  the 
Opuntias.  When  the  sandstorms  come  they  leave  a  deposit  of 
sand  which  buries  up  the  vegetable  matter  and  part  of  the  living 
plants,  and  so  the  process  goes  on.  In  ages  to  come,  no  doubt,  a 
comparatively  rich  soil  will  he  the  result,  in  which  other  plants 
will  be  able  to  exist,  and  so  change  the  face  of  the  country. 
In  the  barren  rocky  districts  on  the  mountain  slopes,  the 
Cactus  acts  in  quite  another  way.  Slowly,  but  no  less  surely 
and  well,  its  thick  fleshy  roots  penetrate  deep  down  into  the 
crevices  of  the  rocks  in  search  of  moi.sture,  and  when  the  plant 
ultimately  dies  through  sheer  old  age,  the  roots  rot,  and  allow 
the  air,  rain,  and  frost  to  penetrate,  and  so  help  to  carry  on  the 
irresistible,  ever-active  process  of  disintegration  of  the  rocks. 
Shrubland  Park,  Suffolk. 
The  county  of  Suffolk  has  a  surface  of  800,000  acres,  generally 
level,  the  soil  sandy  towards  the  sea,  but  clayey  inwards.  It  is 
an  old  county,  and  was  the  Mercia  of  the  Romans,  containing 
fioniG  venerable  seats  and  woods.  Great  quantities  of  Peas  are 
grown  still,  as  of  yore,  at  Woodbridge,  for  the  London  market, 
and  Lowestoft,  besides  being  situated  at  the  most  easterly  ex¬ 
tremity  of  Great  Britain,  and  famous  for  its  herring  fishery,  has 
a  horticultural  claim  for  its  large  growth  of  CaiTots. 
Bury  St.  Edmunds,  named  after  the  sainted  King  of  that  name, 
who  was  killed  here,  and  over  whose  bunal  place  the  Abbey  is 
said  to  have  been  built,  used  to  have  a  botanic  garden,  which 'was 
established  in  1819  by  a  Mr.  Hudson,  of  Chapel  House,  and 
embraced  tAvo  or  three  acres,  the  collection  of  hardy  plants  being 
considerable,  and  the  expenses  were  defrayed  b,v  annual  sub¬ 
scribers  at  tAvo  guineas  each.  It  no  longer  exists,  nor  have  I 
any  record  that  the  proposed  botanic  garden  for  Ip.sAvich  AAhich 
Loudon  mentioned  in  his  “  Encyclopsedia  of  Gardening  ”  ever 
came  into  existence. 
But,  having  mentioned  the.se  general  facts,  it  is  time  to  par¬ 
ticularise,  and  the  seat  of  Avhich  I  am  to  Avrite  lies  a  feAV  miles 
nortliAvard  from  IpsAvich,  the  beautiful  and  interesting  county 
toAvn,  off  the  NorAvich  road,  a  splendid  track  for  driving  or 
cycling  upon,  though  hilly  here  and  there. 
IpsAvich  is  a  toAvn  of  irregular  shape,  built  mainly  east  and 
Avest  along  the  valley  of  the  Oi'Avell  and  the  Gipping,  the  former 
being  navigable  from  HarAvich  upAvard.  It  is  noAv  possessed  of 
an  excellent  public  recreation  ground — the  Christchurch  Park 
and  arboretum,  containing,  too,  a  technical  instruction  school; 
Avhile  in  the  toAvn  are  several  A'ery  fine  churches  and  public 
buildings.  It  has  a  population  of  over  60,000,  the  chief  indus¬ 
tries  being  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  machinery  (Rau- 
somes,  Sims,  and  Jefferies’  Avorks  being  here),  its  .shipping,  and 
its  corset  Avorks.  A  bi-ief  history,  together  Avith  information 
concerning  the  geology,  botany,  zoology,  and  ornithology  of  its 
neighbourhood,  Avas  printed  in  an  official  guide'  s;pecially  prepared 
for  the  meeting  of  the  British  -4s&ociation  for  the  Advancement 
of  Science,  Avhen  it  met  here  in  1895. 
Turning  noAv  to  Shrubland  Park,  the  .seat  of  Lord  de  Sauinarez, 
though  younger  readers  of  the  Journal  may  not  know  of  it.  This 
could  not  have  been  said  about  forty  years  ago,  Avhen  Donald 
Beaton  used  to  Avrite  his  notes  on  florists’  floAA’ers  for  the  old 
“  Cottage  Gardener.”  His  style  Avas  most  convincing,  his  ex¬ 
pression  hrcid  if  quaint,  and  his  essays  ahvays  full  of  knowledge. 
Our  oldest  readers  still  recall  Avith  pleasure  those  amplified 
letters. 
The  e.state  and  property  of  Shrubland  AA’as  for  some  genera¬ 
tions  in  the  hands  of  the  Bacon  family,  but  it  Avas  parted  with  in 
1795  by  the  ReAn  Nicholas  Bacon  to  Mr.  William  Middleton  of 
CroAA'field,  who  Avas  created  a  Baronet  in  1804,  and  assumed,  by 
sign-manual  in  1822,  the  name  of  FoAvle,  in  addition  to  and  before 
that  of  Middleton.  The  present  Lady  de  Saumarez,  daughter  of 
the  late  Captain  Charles  Acton  Broke,  and  niece  to  Sir  William 
FoAvle-Middleton.  became  heir  to  Shrubland  after  the  death  of 
Admiral  Sir  George  Broke-Middleton. 
The  position  of  Shrubland  mansion  Avould  seem  to  be  un¬ 
rivalled  in  thei  county.  Set  high  on  a  commanding  eminence, 
the  towers  and  AvindoAA's  of  the  residence  afford  unbroken  A’icAvs 
for  miles  on  eA'ery  side,  OA^er  an  inAinense  stretch  of  wooded  pas- 
rtire  and  arable  land,  and  the  valley  of  the  river  Gipping  on  the 
"Outh-Avest.  Throughout  its  OAvn  domains  there  is  a  wealth  of 
variety  in  park  and  woodland,  AA’aterpool,  kept  laAvns,  terraces, 
and  gardens.  FeAv  estates  have  such  elaborate  terraces.  The 
broad  and  mas.dve  flights  of  steps,  Avith  the  handsome  balustraded 
Avails  mu.st  be  fully  300ft  in  length,  and  are  grandly  terminated 
on  a  platform  overlooking  a  beautiful  Avide-basined  fountain. 
Surrounding  this  fountain  lie  the  geometrical  floAver  beds  with 
gravel  paths  between,  and  all  surrounded  by  lawns.  Beyond  the 
fountain,  and  in  a  straight  line  from  it,  stands  the  LoAver  Temple, 
the  Upper  Temple  being  on  the  terrace  garden  above. 
A  Avriter  has  well  described  Shrubland  as  a  series  of  gardens, 
each  of  a  different  .style,  “  gardens  hanging  100ft  above  other 
gardens,”  and  the  splendour  of  the  architecture  that  adorns  them 
must  appeal  to  all.  FloAA'ers  and  trees  and  shrubs,  and  climbing 
plants  in  the  closest  harmony,  Avith  magnificent  and  elegant  archi¬ 
tecture,  are  both  improved  themselves',  and  assist  the  effect  of,, 
the  art-made  features. 
The  estate  is  entered  off  the  NorAvich  Road,  and  a  long  drive- 
leads  directly  through  the  park  Avith  its  deer,  and  cattle, 
and  great  old  Oak  trees,  to  another  gate,  Avhich  admits  to  the 
kept  grounds  and  to  the  mansion.  It  is  at  this  second  gate  that 
the  Rus.sian  cottage  stands — a  small  abode  shaped  like  a  bee- 
liiA-e,  Avith  an  octagon  roof  rising  to  a  peak  in  the  centre,  Avhile 
the  Avhole  hou.se  is  raised  on  piles,  and  is  built  of  short  slabs  of 
wood.  The  Avalled-in  gardens  lie  to  the  right,  on  high  ground, 
and  contain  .some  admirable  features.  We  found  Mr.  G.  Taylor 
busily  pruning  a  plantation  of  young  Apple  trees,  recently 
planted  on  the  site  of  the  old  orangery  and  other  glass  houses^ 
The  kitchen  and  fruit  gardens  are  AAell  maintained,  notAvithstand- 
ing  the  lessened  number  of  assistants,  and  crops  are  satisfactory 
both  indoors  and  out.  This  Avas  particularly  noticeable  in  the 
case  of  the  Vines  in  sunken  pits,  the  forced  canes  giving  promise 
of  fine  returns,  and  were  themselves  strong  and  vigorous.  The 
Rose  pergola  or  arbour  on  the  east  side  is  a  handsome  feature  of 
the  garden. 
The  patriarchal  Spanish  Chestnuts  Avhich  form  a  single  lino 
from  the  house  along  the  edge  of  the  great  terrace,  are  the  rem¬ 
nants  of  Avhat  may  liaA^e  been  a  grand  aA'enue  here.  Thirteen 
trees  still  remain,  and  the  circumference  of  the  large.st  of  them 
measured  36ft  :  at  3ft  from  the  ground  it  measures  22ft  9in,  and 
stands  over  88ft  high.  What  Avas  formerly  the  largest  tree,  but 
noAv  sadly  broken  by  .storms,  is  47ft  round  on  the  ground  line 
and  30ft  in  girth  at  3ft  from  the  ground. 
Adjoining  the  house  there  is  a  spacious  conservatory  filletl  with 
suitable  subjects,  and  the  someAvhat  uncommon  Olearia  Foster! 
as  a  Avail  plant ;  Avhile  surrounding  the  mansion  are  the  noble  and 
dignified  architectural  terraces  and  parterres  Avhich  it  is  vain  to 
attempt  to  describe.  There  are  beds  and  borders,  smooth  turf 
and  shrubs,  vases,  statuettes,  arches,  urns,  seats,  and  beautiful 
paths.  Mr.  Taylor  has  planted  one  of  the  steeply  sloping  banks 
eastAvard  from  the  broad,  central  staii’Avay  with  a  .selection  of 
Phyllo.stachys  and  Bamboos,  all  of  which  Avere  in  good  condition 
in  December  last  year ;  and  this  Avill  hencefoi'AA’ard  furnish  an 
up-to-date  and  most  interesting  scenic  portion  of  these  exten.sive 
gardens.  AVhen  Ave  say  that  there  are  sixty-five  acres  of  grounds 
to  be  kept  in  order,  readers  Avill  perfectly  understand  what  A'igi- 
lance  is  required  from  the  gardener-in-chief.  But  Mr.  Taylor  sets 
an  admirable  example  to  his  men,  and  so  the  visitor  to  Shrub- 
land  leaA’-es  it  Avith  a  satisfied  and  broadened  mind,  feeling  that 
he  has  Avitnes.sed  one  of  the  most  magnificent  tyjaes  of  English 
gardens. — D. 
Globe  Flowers. 
For  making  a  display  in  the  herbaceous  or  shrubbery  borders 
during  the  month  of  May  the  many  varieties  of  Trollius  noAV'- 
available  are  amongst  the  mo.st  useful  of  spring  flowers.  A  deeply 
dug  and  Avell  enriched,  heavy,  retentive  soil  will  grow  these 
Globe  Ranunculus  to  much  greater  perfection  than  a  light  sandy 
soil,  as  they  suffer  quickly  in  the  spring  from  drought,  which 
preA'ents  a  full  development  of  the  flower.  In  the  case  of  having 
sandy  soil  to  contend  Avith,  continuous  mulchings  Avill  obviate 
any  difficulty  in  this  direction.  Trolliuses  are  so  exhaustive  of  the 
.soil  by  rea.'^on  of  their  being  so  freely  rooting  that  replanting 
eA'ery  fourth  year  is  necessary  to  keep  the  plants  in  a  vigorous 
condition.  September  is  a  good  time  to  diA’ide  the  plants,  or 
should  the  Aveather  be  showery  Avhen  they  liaA'e  finished  flowering 
the  offsets  quickly  make  root,  and  groAv  into  nice  plants  that 
Avill  give  floAver  the  folloAving  season.  T.  europseus  is  the 
common  Globe  FloAver,  groAA'ing  freely  and  flowering  abundantly, 
pale  yelloAv  in  colour.  From  this  vai'iety  many  handsome  forms 
have  been  obtained.  Orange  Globe  is  perhaps  the  most  shoAvy  of 
all,  A'ery  free  in  growth,  and  abundantly  giving  its  lai'ge.  deep, 
gloAving  orange-coloured  floAvers.  In  height  it  groAvs  from  2ft 
to  3ft.  T.  e.  superbus  is  a  di.stinct  advance  on  theAypp,  being 
more  robust  in  groAvth,  Avith  finer  floAvers,  quite  globular  in  form. 
The  colour  is  especially  pleasing,  being  a  clear  primrose  vellow. 
T.  napellifolius  has  even  larger  flcwei's  than  the  preceding,  a 
shade  paler  in  colour,  more  vigorous  in  growth,  and  quite  a 
desirable  form.  T.  Fortune!  plena  has  smaller  floAvers.  rich  orange 
in  colour,  of  dAvarfer  groAAth,  very  free  and  shoAA-y.  T.  japonicus 
fl.-pl.  has  large,  semi-double,  rich  orange-coloured  floAvers,  groAA- 
ing  about  2ft  high  ;  quite  a  desirable  plant  to  include.  T.  Newry 
Giant  is  a  tall  groAving  form  of  T.  asiaticus,  Avith  large,  deep 
golden  yellow  floAvers. — E.  Molyneux. 
