92 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  31,  1901. 
bridge,  from  where  we  have  a  charming  view  of  the  lake,  and 
immediately  find  ourselves  on  an  island,  a  most  secluded  and 
quiet  retreat,  forming  a  sort  of  glade,  with  many  single 
specimen  trees  of  Wellingtonias,  Libocedrus,  Magnolias,  and 
Sweet  Chestnuts,  the  whole  banked  round  its  boundary  on  three 
sides  by  Rhododendrons,  and  on  one  side  by  the  lake.  Still 
proceeding  we  come  to  another  bridge  taking  us  from  the 
island  towards  the  beautiful  mausoleum  of  H.R.H.  the  Duchess 
of  Kent,  the  Queen’s  mother.  This  stands  on  a  high  elevation 
embowered  in  many  trees  of  luxuriant  growth. 
Frogmore  House. 
Again  passing,  by  a  circuitouB  route,  along  a  walk  to  the  right 
band,  having  the  high  mound  on  which  the  Mausoleum  is  built 
to  our  left,  and  the  lake  to  our  right,  we  arrive  at  another  cosy 
summer-house,  and  immediately  afterwards  we  stand  before  the 
west  front  of  Frogmore  House,  a  homely,  comfortable,  unpre¬ 
tentious,  English-looking  structure,  the  exterior  being  painted  a 
light  grey  colour.  In  front  of  the  mansion  a  splendid  general 
view  is  obtained  of  the  grounds,  the  lake,  and  the  park  beyond. 
A  smooth  sof t  lawn,  of  considerable  extent,  gently  slopes  down  to 
the  lake  side,  and  the  lake  here  seems  to  fold  in  its  embrace,  as  it 
were,  a  richly  wooded  promontory.  On  the  left  it  is  spanned  by 
an  artistic  iron  bridge,  and  on  the  right  it  seems  to  lose  itself 
behind  the  leafy  mound  of  the  Duchess  of  Kent’s  mausoleum. 
Still  to  the  right  we  have  one  of  the  beautiful  lawns  previously 
mentioned,  with  its  unique  specimen  trees  and  beds  for  spring 
and  summer  plants.  On  the  left  are  some  glorious  deciduous 
trees,  under  which,  when  in  the  full  beauty  of  their  leafage, 
can  be  seen  her  Majesty’s  tea  rooms.  At  this  point,  too,  we  have  a 
glorious  view  of  Windsor  Great  Park  and  its  giant  forest  trees. 
The  Queen’s  Tea  Rooms. 
Here,  at  the  south-west  corner  of  the  house,  is  a  simple  little 
flower  garden  c  n  the  turf,  and  which  in  spring  and  summer  is 
planted  with  bright  flowers.  Very  few  of  what  are  called 
summer  bedding  plants  are  grown  at  Frogmore  House.  With 
such  wealth  of  flowering  trees,  shrubs,  and  herbaceous  plants,  it 
is  almost  unnecessary.  Now  let  us  leave  the  walk  and  cross  over 
the  lawn  under  the  shade  of  some  giant  Elms  and  Beeches  in 
the  direction  of  the  late  Queen’s  tea  rooms.  It  is  from  here  that 
the  view  representing  the  tea  rooms  has  been  obtained,  also  the 
first  view  of  the  two  veteran  Evergreen  Oaks,  said  to  date  back 
to  the  time  of  the  Crusaders  (see  pages  100  and  101). 
These  are  magnificent  trees,  which  from  the  distance  appear 
united,  the  circumference  of  their  branches  measuring  upwards 
of  100  yards.  They  are  in  perfect  health,  and  it  is  underneath 
these  two  old  veteran  Oaks  that  her  Majesty  frequently  used  to 
take  breakfast  and  tea  in  the  summer  time.  It  is  in  truth 
a  charming  spot,  destined  to  become  historical. 
Thus  comes  to  an  end  a  mere  glimpse  of  this  delightful 
garden.  We  do  not  know  what  in  it  to  admire  the  most — 
whether  the  magnificent  forest  trees  or  the  glorious  collection  of 
flowering  trees  and  shrubs,  and  the  specimen  Conifer®,  the  lawns, 
the  lake,  or  the  exquisite  way  in  which  this  36  acres  of 
garden  is  laid  out  and  the  perfection  of  order  in  which  it  is  kept. 
It  is  not  any  one  of  these,  but  the  “  perfect  whole,”  forming  as  it 
does  in  harmonious  beauty  the  most  lovely,  peaceful,  and  restful 
of  gardens,  the  fitting  cemetery  of  an  Empress  Queen. — P.  A.  X. 
Queen  Victoria  at  Balmoral. 
Nowhere  will  our  departed  Queen  be  more  missed  than  at 
Balmoral,  which  I  had  the  privilege  of  visiting  on  behalf  of  the 
Journal  in  the  year  of  the  Diamond  Jubilee.  One  had  read  and 
heard  much  of  the  respectful  affection  with  which  her  Majesty 
was  viewed  by  those  about  her  in  her  Highland  home,  but  it  took 
a  personal  visit  to  enable  one  to  realise  its  depth  and  sincerity. 
I  confess  that  it  gave  me  a  higher  idea  than  ever  before  of  the 
truly  noble  character  of  her  who  has  been  taken  from  her  mourning 
people.  That  this  deep  reverence  and  regard  was  amply  justi¬ 
fied  could  easily  be  seen  in  the  course  of  the  conversation  that 
one  had  with  those  about  her  at  Balmoral ;  conversation,  too,  in 
which  there  was  no  opportunity  for  anything  but  sincere  speech 
on  the  part  of  those  one  talked  with.  One  heard  of  the  steady, 
unwavering  course  of  kindness  and  true  courtesy  to  all.  In 
little  things,  as  well  as  in  great,  this  was  ever  shown,  and  in 
none  more  than  in  her  Majesty’s  commands  that  she  should  be 
kept  informed  when  away  of  the  welfare  of  the  sick  and  ailing  in 
whom  she  was  interested,  and  this  meant  all  round  Balmoral. 
Another  thing  which  struck  home  to  one  who  has  seen  many 
fine  gardens  in  his  time,  was  the  simplicity  of  her  Majesty’s 
tastes.  She  did  not  like  many  changes,  and  loved  the  simple 
fragrant  flowers  of  which  we  never  grow  weary  when  others  pall 
upon  us.  We  are  told  that  among  the  flowers  which  encircled 
her  mortal  remains  when  they  lay  at  Osborne  was  the  sweet  and 
lovely  Lily  of  the  Valley.  This  was  one  of  the  Queen’s  favourite 
flowers,  and  was  largely  grown  at  Balmoral.  It  was  a  fitting 
blossom  to  place  by  the  side  of  one  who  ever  bore  about  with 
her  “  the  white  flower  of  a  blameless  life,”  and  who,  though 
gone  from  her  people,  has  left  behind  sweet  memories  of  kindly 
deeds  which  shall  surely  teaoh  them  that  her  greatness  con¬ 
sisted  not  in  her  station  alone,  but  in  that  devotion  to  duty 
and  that  thoughtfulness  which  characterised  our  Queen’s  thoughts 
and  actions. — S.  Arnott. 
Propagation  of  Pansies. 
\Y  HEN  one  has  a  good  collection  of  these  beautiful  flowers  it  is  worth 
while  keeping  it.  If  the  seed  is  saved  probably  less  than  half  the 
resulting  plants  will  be  as  good  as  the  original  stock,  as  the  tendency 
to  degeneration  in  Pansies  is  very  strong,  especially  if  there  are  any 
inferior  ones  near  those  from  which  the  seed  is  saved.  If,  on  the 
other  hand,  we  leave  the  old  plams  for  another  season  the  blooms 
usually  get  smaller,  and  the  plants  out  of  shape.  Toe  best  way  to 
perpetuate  a  good  stock  is  undoubtedly  by  division. 
This  is  best  done  in  February  or  early  in  March,  according  to  the 
season,  but  the  earlier  the  better.  The  old  plants  should  be  lifted, 
and  all  the  flower-bearing  stems  ot  last  year  cut  off,  when  there  will 
remain  a  number  of  fresh,  young  shoots  from  the  roots,  short  and 
sturdy.  The  roots  or  crowns  should  be  cut  up  with  a  sharp  knife  in 
such  a  way  as  to  get  the  shortest  and  sturdiest  pieces  with  roots  on. 
If  each  piece  of  root  has  two  or  three  shoots  so  much  the  better. 
The  ground  having  been  deeply  dug  and  richly  manured,  in  a  moist 
and  fairly  shady  place  if  possible,  the  divisions  should  De  put  in  with 
a  dibbler,  and  watered  without  a  rose  to  settle  the  soil  round  the  roots. 
They  should  be  planted  so  that  half  an  inch  of  the  stem  or  stems 
previously  above  the  surface  is  now  below  it,  as  this  part  quickly 
sends  out  roots,  and  it  gives  a  sturdier  appearance  to  the  plants.  They 
will  get  tall  after  they  have  bloomed  a  month  or  two,  when  they  can 
either  have  short  sticks  put  to  them  or  be  allowed  to  trail  upon  the 
ground.  If  they  are  planted  ]ust  behind  an  edging  of  spring  bulbs 
they  will  be  useful  to  cover  over  the  space  when  these  have 
disappeared. 
Pansies  grown  in  this  way  do  not  make  such  bushy  plants  as 
seedlings,  but  the  method  has  this  recommendation — you  know  what 
you  have  got.  I  have  kept  the  same  stock  for  years  in  this  way,  and 
have  had  the  plants  in  bloom  from  May  till  Ftbruary,  when  I  divided 
them  again  ;  this,  of  course,  in  an  open  winter. 
Another  method  of  propagation  which  has  the  disadvantage  of 
spoiling  the  summer’s  bloom,  though  resulting  in  better  shaped 
plants,  is  to  select,  when  the  plants  are  well  in  bloom,  those  which  it 
is  desired  to  perpetuate,  and  peg  down  the  shoots  or  stems,  so  as  to 
leave  the  crowns  of  the  plants  exposed,  all  the  bloom  buds  being 
picked  off  as  they  appear.  Leaf  mould  should  be  applied  round  the 
roots,  and  when  young  shoots  arise  from  them  they  should  be  taken 
off  when  half  an  inch  high,  and  put  in  small  pots  with  plenty  of  sand 
and  leaf  mould.  If  these  are  placed  in  a  cold  frame  they  will  soon  be 
well  rooted,  and  if  it  is  not  convenient  to  plant  them  straight  away 
where  they  are  wanted  to  bloom  next  spring,  the  pots  can  be  sunk  in 
the  soil  iu  a  shady  place,  where  they  will  only  need  watering  in  very 
dry  weather.  They  can  afterwards  be  planted  in  their  final  position 
in  time  to  get  established  before  the  winter  sets  in. — A.  Petts. 
