November  27,  1902.  JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
497 
contour.  Groups  of  Berberis  Dar- 
Avini  are  placed  about,  for  this  useful 
shrub  is  duly  appreciated,  and  alon 
the  Devonshire  coast, 
hedges 
& 
are 
the  shears  being  but 
formed  of  it 
lightly  used. 
As  one  approaches  Killerton  House 
from  the  garden  or  chapel,  -wide  and 
extensive  views  are  obtained  of  the 
beautiful  park  with  its  herds  of 
graceful  deer  and  rugged  ponies,  the 
russet  and  crimson  Beech  woods 
rising  up  from  the  north  side  of  the 
park  to  shelter  the  house  and  it. 
Besides  the  handsome  patriarchal 
Beech,  Oak,  and  Hawthorn  trees 
adorning  the  expansive  park,  the 
incomparably  rich  hues  of  the  Scarlet 
Oak  ((,).  eoecinea)  vividly  glow  beneath 
the  streaming  sunshine ;  and  could 
there  be  a  nearer  semblance  to  “  the 
earthly  Paradise”  than  the  picture 
thus  feebly  given — of  the  coolest  of 
green  grass  stretching  over  many 
undulating  acres  and  scarlet  sun- 
illumined  foliage  above,  with  sinewy 
deer  in  their  innocence  and  elegance 
alone  the  inheritors  ? 
Kalmia  latifolia  is  usually  seen  as 
dwarf,  tiny  bushes,  even  in  the  lati¬ 
tude  of  London,  but  in  the  favoured 
south  they  obtain  specimens  9ft  high 
and  12ft  through  which  en wreath 
themselves  with  flowers.  Berberis 
asiatica,  with  pale  spines,  forms 
rounded  bushes  of  interest,  while 
Fatsia  (Aralia)  Sieboldi  appears  to 
good  advantage  and  is  of  large  size. 
Beds  of  Japanese  Maples  have  lately 
been  planted  in  place  of  the  pre¬ 
ponderance  of  Laurels  and  Rhododendrons  previously  on  the  spot. 
Eucryphia  pinnatifolia  is  uncommon,  and  the  same  remark  applies  to 
Olea  ilicifolia ;  tall  Cordylines  (C.  australis)  lend  a  sub-tropical 
character  to  the  plantations. 
Amongst  Coniferous  trees  of  note  there  is  a  Liboeedrus  decurrens, 
70ft  high ;  a  Thuyopsis  dolobrata,  36ft,  one  of  three  brought  home 
from  China  by  a  Captain  Fortesque,  the  others  having  gone,  one  to 
Frogmore,  the  other  to  Dropmore.  It  is  a  magnificent  plant,  with 
robust  growth  and  a  perfectly  erect  leader.  A  specimen  Fitzroya 
Patagonica  is  28ft  high:  a  Sequoia  (Wellingtonia)  gigantea,  85t't ; 
Cryptomeria  japoniea,  65ft ;  and  a  noble  Douglas  Fir.  70ft. 
Desfontainia  spinosa  is  a  charming  Holly-like  shrub  rarely  seen 
northwards,  though  in  pai’ts  of  Ayrshire  it  flourishes.  At  Killerton  in 
mid-November  a  large  number  of  bushes  were  massed  with  the  bright 
crimson  tubular  flowers,  the  mouths  being  tipped  with  orange.  Mr. 
H.  J.  Elwes  declares  that  at  Killerton  the  plants  luxuriate  in  a  manner 
out  of  all  compai’ison  with  the  same  species  in  its  native  Chilian 
habitats.  At  this  place,  too,  there  are  three  hoary  Cork  Oaks 
((,).  Suber)  that,  in  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Elwes,  “just  look  like  the 
trees  in  their  native  home  ” 
— northern  Africa.  These  > 
are  65ft  high,  and  bear 
thick  layers  of  cork.  The 
Loquat  (Eriobotrya — Pho- 
tinia  —  japoniea)  .  grows 
sturdily  on  the  open  sunny 
banks,  one  plant  being  9ft 
high  and  12ft  in  diameter. 
Perhaps  it  may  be  fruited 
On  a  profitable  scale,  and 
the  fiuit  is  edible.  The 
beautiful  Snowdrop  Tree 
(Halesia  tetraptera)  which, 
in  the  line  of  the  Thames, 
or  very  little  further  north¬ 
ward,  is  always  accorded 
the  protection  of  a  wall,  at 
Killerton  grows  to  20ft. 
This  is  undoubtedly  one  of 
the  loveliest  of  deciduous 
flowering  trees. 
To  see  Embothrium 
cqccineum  in  the  spring¬ 
time  in  parts  of  Devon 
and  Cornwall  is  a  sight  of 
rare  interest  and  splendour, 
but  this  r  very  handsome 
shrub  is  only  half-hardy. 
Groups  of  Azalea  indic'a 
are  becoming  established 
out  of Moors  in  the  gardens 
Six  specimen  Japs. 
here,  and  have  remained  almost  un¬ 
harmed  through  two  or  three  winters. 
The  only  injured  plants  are  those 
not  shaded  from  the  morning  sun, 
for  where  the  frosted  plants  have 
time  to  slowly  thaw  before  the  sun 
touches  them  they  are .  well  and 
healthy.  Eucalyptus  coccifera,  with 
silvery-green  foliage,  furnishes  a 
distinctively  beautiful  tree  in  the 
grounds,  Leueothoe  attains  to 
bushy  dimensions. 
Another  very  effective  tree  during 
November,  or  earlier  in  a  dry  season, 
is  the  Liquidamber,  with  leaves  of 
many  richly  tinted  colours.  The 
little  Butcher’s  Broom  (Ruseus  acu- 
leatus) '  grows  wild  wherever  it  is 
allowed  to.  A  very  curious  shrub  is 
Colletia  cruciata,  very  dark  green, 
and  a  mass  of  spiny  growths.  It  is 
a  subject  of  interest,  though  not  of 
'  beauty,  and  would  do  well  amid  a 
collection  of  Brooms  and  Flex, 
though  it  is  one  of  the  Rhamneoe. 
Colletia  spinosa  or  horrida  is  coarser. . 
Both  have  the  same  character  as  the 
‘  Christ’s-thorn  (Paliurus  aculeatus  or 
Spina-Christi). 
Rhododendrons  are  giants  of  their 
kind,  and  the  best  new  varieties  are 
being  introduced.  Mr.  Coutts  has 
already  lifted  some  of  the  largest, 
like  bushy  trees,  and  replanted  them 
in  positions  where  their  proportions 
will  be  more  resplendently  shown. 
One  of  these  required  three  days  to 
lift,  transport,  and  replant  it.  Mr. 
Coutts  is  also  raising  batches  of  the 
choice  Himalayan  Rhododendrons 
them  in  well  sheltered  places  about  the 
with  the  intention  to  plant 
kept  grounds.  Both  Sir  Thomas  and  Lady  Acland  are  keen  gardeners, 
garden 
with  much 
and  Avatch  the  present  deA'elopments  in  their 
pleasure. 
Amongst  the  neAV  works  engaging  present  attention,  besides  the 
remodelling  or  replanting  of  a  large  part  of  the  grounds,  there  is  an 
extensive  rock-garden  in  process  of  making.  The  spot  chosen  lends 
itself  remarkably  Avell  for  the  purpose,  being  on  sloping,  undulating 
ground,  and  not  far  from  the  house.  Paths  have  already  been  laid 
doAvn,  and  the  general  features  of  the  rockery  are  planned.  Bouldeis 
and  stones  are  being  fixed  into  position,  and  large  pockets  are  a 
feature,  for  there  is  no  necessity  to  donfine  the  plantings.  Rambler 
and  trailing  Roses,  with  species  of  Rubus,  Honeysuckles,  Clematis, 
and  Vines,  will  be  planted 
high 
rockery  to  heighten  the  effect  and  limit  the  vision. 
up  tOAvards  the  back  slopes  of  the 
The  same  subjects 
are  proposed  for  the  upper  ridges  of  a  ferny  ravine,  Avhich  at  present 
is  an  old  sunk  fence  marking  the  boundary  of  the  Arast  park.  Liliums, 
Mulleins,  Foxgloves,  and  similar  plants  Avill  accompany  the  Ferns  in 
this  part. 
Througl 
out  large  tracts 
of  the  sloping  laAvns  amongst  the 
trees  and  shrubs  there  are 
thousands  of  Narcissi  and 
other  spring  floAvers.  I 
must  not  omit  to  mention 
a  quaint  old  summer  house 
situated  close  by  the  neAv 
rock-garden,  the  floor  of 
which  is  formed  of  the 
knuckle  -  bones  of  deer 
placed  end  upmost.  Not 
far  off  from  this  spot  there 
is  a  monumental  marble 
column  •  with  plinth  and 
loAver  base,  erected  to  the 
memory  of  the  present 
-  oAvner’s  grandfather  by  his 
county  friends.  Sir  Thomas 
Acland,  the  grandfather, 
really  made  Killerton,  and 
during  his  life  and  occu¬ 
pancy  extensive  plantations 
Avere  made,  as  well  as  beau¬ 
tiful  grass  drives  and  roads 
throughout 
the 
Twelve  Japanese  varieties. 
estate. 
These  are  not  now  in  the 
same  keeping.  The  Deodar 
Glen,  a  magnificent  sloping 
vista  belted  on  either  hand 
by  huge  Deodars,  lies  out¬ 
side  the  garden  grounds, 
but  near  the  latter  and  the 
park.  Seen  at  any  time  it 
