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JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
June  20,  1901. 
Brayton  Hall,  Cnmberland. 
This  seat  of  Sir  Wilirid  Lawson,  Bart.,  is  situated  eighteen  miles 
from  Carlisle.  There  is  a  station  at  Brayton,  on  the  Maryport  and 
Carlisle  Railway.  The  Hall,  a  large  modern  house,  built  in  1859,  is 
of  white  sandstone,  and  is  surrounded  by  a  well-wooded  park  of 
350  acres.  Much  planting  has  been  done  by  the  present  owner  ;  in 
the  park  there  is  a  lake  acres  in  extent. 
^The  Lawson  family  are  derived  from  John  Lawson,  who,  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  III.,  was  lord  of  Fawkesgrave  in  Yorks,  and  from  him, 
through  a  long  line  of  illustrious  ancestors,  has  descended  Sir  Wilfrid 
Lawson,  Bart.,  who  married  the  widow  of  Thos.  Lee,  Esq.,  of  Isel, 
in  Cumberland.  Wilfrid  Lawson  of  Isel  was  created  a  baronet  by 
James  II.  Brayton  Hall  was  purchased  in  the  early  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century  from  the  co-heiresses  of  the  Salkelds  by  Sir 
Wilfrid  Lawson,  third  baronet,  one  of  the  Grooms  of  the  Bedchamber 
of  George  I.  The  gardens  at  Brayton  are  notable,  and  a  hasty  visit 
and  large  Marantas,  including  M.  Sanderi,  were  pointed  out.  Phyllo- 
taenium  Lindeni,  two  fine,  healthy  specimens,  were  noticed,  and  a 
fine  specimen  of  Maranta  Cooperi ;  whilst  several  dozen  plants  of 
Anthurium  Scherzerianum  Wardi  and  A.  Scherzerianum  giganteum, 
bearing  many  brilliant  scarlet  spathes,  shone  conspicuously. 
Numerous  fine  plants  suitable  for  table,  with  coral  berries,  were 
represented  by  Ardisia  crenulata.  Stephanotis  and  Allamandas  are 
trained  thinly  on  the  roofs  of  the  warm  houses.  Eucharis  amazonica 
in  large  quantities,  and  in  the  best  of  health,  were  seen ;  as  also 
hybrid  Hippeastrums  in  dozens,  full  of  gorgeous  flowers.  There  are 
several  houses  devoted  entirely  to  Orchids.  Odontoglossums  were 
very  healthy  looking,  and  two  dozen  large  plants  of  Dendrobium 
nobile  in  7  and  8-inch  pots,  together  with  D.  nobile  nobilius,  having 
vigorous  pseudo-bulbs  wreathed  in  flowers,  formed  a  splendid  feature. 
Numbers  of  plants  of  Cymbidium  eburneum,  with  pearly  white 
flowers,  and  Cvmbidium  Lowianutn  producing  vigorous  spikes. 
Dendrobium  Dalhousieanum  was  represented  by  three  remarkable 
plants,  whose  health  and  vigour  could  hardly  be  surpassed.  The 
BRAYTON  HALL,  CUMBERLAND,  THE  SEAT  OP  SIR  WILFRID  LAWSON,  BART. 
in  the”  month  of  March  will  not  bv  any  means  allow  me  to  do  credit 
to  them  and  their  able  manager,  Mr.  Stewart,  who  has  been  here  for 
fourteen  years. 
There  are  large  kitchen  gardens,  an  orchard  of  young  Apples, 
mostly'eight  or  nine  years  old,  extensive  flower  and  pleasure  gardens, 
and  a  rosery  in  the  grounds.  A  very  fine  Fern-leaved  Beech  and  a 
large  Irish  Yew  have  been  planted.  Scented-leaved  Pelargoniums 
and  Ageratums  were  in  the  vineries,  and  Calceolarias  in  the  frames. 
Early  flowering  Chrysanthemums  in  hundreds  were  being  inserted  as 
cuttings  from  old  stools,  wintered  in  cold  frames,  for  planting  in  the 
flower  beds  and  borders.  A  fine  lot  of  Marie  Louise  Violets  were 
seen  in  a  long  brick  pit,  full  of  large  flowers,  and  Mr.  Stewart  informed 
me  he  had  been  gathering  regularly  since  Cnristmas.  Chrysanthemums 
in  pots  are  grown  to  the  extent  of  five  or  six  hundred. . 
The  plant  houses  at  Brayton  Hall  are  all  span-roofed,  and  are 
placed  around  three  sides  of  a  quadrangle,  with  a  total  length  of 
450  feet.  Fine-foliaged  plants  are  well  and  largely  grown  at  Brayton, 
Crotons  being  in  great  variety.  I  saw  seven  plants  cut  back  and 
devoid  of  foliage,  growing  in  large  pots  and  tubs,  4  feet  high,  and  as 
much  in  diameter,  and  others  in  4^-inch  pots.  The  varieties, 
Hiberrimus,  Prince  of  Wales,  Princess  of  Wales,  and  Clarkei,  were 
especially  noticed  as  fine  in  colour.  Many  fine-leaved  Anthuriums 
pseudo-bulbs  made  last  year  were  5  feet  in  length  and  of  unusual 
thickness,  whilst  those  two  years  old  had  numerous  racemes  of 
cinnamon  and  chocolate-coloured  flowers.  Cattleya  labiata  autumnalis, 
C.  Harrisonas,  and  warm  house  Cypripediums,  figured  in  great  quantity 
and  excellent  quality. 
There  are  four  large  vineries  and  four  Peach  houses  at  Braytor, 
Strawberry  Royal  Sovereign  is  forced  plentifully.  French  Beans  are 
also  much  forced.  There  is  a  small  corridor  connected  with  the  fruit 
houses,  the  roof  of  which  is  covered  with  climbing  Roses,  and  under¬ 
neath  grow  Azaleas  and  other  hardwooded  greenhouse  plants.  The 
greenhouse  in  March  contained  a  display  of  sweet  Jonquils,  Narcissus, 
Hyacinths,  and  Freesias,  with  a  fine  batch  of  several  dozens  of 
Abyssinian  Primroses,  having  silvery  foliage  covering  their  pots,  and 
five  or  six  spikes  of  yellow  flowers  rising  therefrom.  The  Palm  house 
is  a  large  circular  structure  situated  away  from  the  other  glass  houses 
in  the  pleasure  grounds,  containing  many  Palms  of  all  sizes,  from  12  feet 
downwards,  including  Kentias,  Arecas,  Chamaerops,  Latanias,  and 
Cocos.  Two  fine  specimens  of  Cycas  circinalis  were  here.  There  are 
many  other  things  of  interest  in  the  gardens  at  Bra}  ton,  but  as  I 
took  no  notes  this  article  may  fail  to  do  full  justice  to  these  fine 
gardens,  and  to  the  abilities  of  Mr.  Stewart,  Sir  Wilfrid’s  able  gardener. 
— F.  Stbeet. 
