46« 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
November  22,  1900. 
Camwood. 
liiE  climate  of  many  districts  of  Ireland  is  admirably  suited  for 
several  kinds  of  vegetation,  and  admirers  of  the  beautiful  will  find  in 
that  favoured  island  much  to  admire  besides  the  scenery  delightful 
indeed  as  that  is.  The  climate  seems  particularly  favourable  for  shrubs 
and  trees  as  well  as  for  hardy  flowers.  One  of  the  many  estates  where 
good  work  in  the  adornment  of  the  place  has  long  been  carried  on  is  Ham- 
wood,  CO.  Meath,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Charles  R.  Hamilton.  The  mansion 
ittelf  is  one  of  those  houses  typical  of  the  period  in  which  it  was  built — 
roomy,  but  with  no  great  pretentions  to  architectural  effect.  This, 
of  these  are  very  effective  at  their  flowering  period,  and  those  of 
evergreen  habit  give  an  air  of  brightness  to  the  place  when  there  is 
little  in  bloom. 
Looking  at  all  the  surroundings  one  cannot  but  admit  that  these  beds 
are  quite  in  keeping  with  the  scenery  around  them.  Among  the  beds 
are  several,  either  altogether  filled  with,  or  bordered  by  Heaths,  which 
are  favourites  here,  such  as  Erica  carnea  and  its  white  variety,  with 
E.  vagans  and  others.  Golden  Hollies,  Mahonias,  Rhododendrons, 
Azaleas,  and  other  fine  shrubs  are  also  plentifully  planted  in  these  beds. 
One  of  the  prettiest  features  is  the  fine  Silver  Birch  shown  in  the 
photograph.  Unfortunately  the  picture  does  not  bring  out  the  size 
of  this  tree  or  its  charms  when  in  foliage.  On  the  opposite  side  is  a 
fine  Copper  Beech  of  large  size  and  finely  coloured.  Many  fine 
> 
> 
AN  AVENUE  OP  CONIFERS  AT  HA.MWOOD 
however,  matters  less,  as  the  taste  of  its  successive  owners  has  led  to  the 
walls  being  covered  with  Ivy  and  other  creeping  plants.  The  mansion 
was  built  about  1770,  and  the  Hamilton  family,  who  came  originally 
from  the  north  of  Ireland,  have  devoted  many  years  to  the  improvement 
of  its  surroundings. 
The  present  owner  is  a  devoted  and  unusually  well-informed 
horticulturist  and  arboriculturist,  and  since  he  came  into  possession  of 
the  estate  much  has  been  done  to  render  it  more  beautiful.  One  of  the 
illustrations  which  accompany  this,  and  which  are  by  Miss  Mabel 
Gaisford,  is  of  a  portion  of  the  grounds  in  front  of  the  mansion.  Here, 
there  were  for  many  years  a  number  of  beds  filled  with  bedding 
plants.  It  was  felt  that  it  would  be  an  advantage  to  have  some¬ 
thing  more  permanent,  and  these  beds  were  filled  with  shrubs.  Many 
specimens  of  rare  trees  are  to  be  seen  near  the  house  in  various 
directions.  One  may  mention  a  fine  plant  of  Pavia  macrostachya  5 
Pittospornms ;  the  distinct  Pinus  aristata  ;  a  good  Pern -leaved  Beech  ; 
Waterer’s  Blue  Spruce,  Abies  pungens  argentea ;  Abies  polita  ;  Purple 
Berberis ;  and  a  noble  Cedrus  deodara.  Juniperus  recurva  was  extra 
fine,  and  Rhus  cotinus,  in  various  forms,  exceedingly  effective.  A 
capital  specimen  of  Abies  ajanensis,  from  North  Japan,  planted  about 
twenty-five  years  ago,  is  now  30  feet  high.  Noble  specimens  of  Pinus 
insignis  adorn  the  grounds,  and  our  illustration  will  give  some 
idea  of  a  fine  avenue  of  these  and  other  Conifers  along  which  it  is  a  rare 
pleasure  to  walk,  delighting  the  eyes  meanwhile  on  the  stately  trees 
among  which  we  pass. 
On  the  way  to  the  walled  garden  we  pass  many  shrubs  and  see  a 
