April  7,  19(14 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
295 
Gardens  and  Gardening  in  the  Isle  ol  Wight, 
Horticulturists  and  the  public  in  general  resident  on  the 
mainland,  are  rvont  to  regard  this  Island  as  possessing  excep¬ 
tional  natural  advantages  both  in  climate  and  environment  tor 
gardening.  Not  for  a  moment  is  it  my  intent  to  play  the  role  of 
the  pessimist  in  attempting  to  depreciate  our  Garden  Isle  of 
which,  as  a  native,  I  am  justly  proud ;  nor  to  deny  that  it 
deserves  its  great  reputation  as  a  health  resort  from  its  bracing 
pure  air  wafted  to  the  heart  of  the  famed  Undercliff  and  other 
localities,  from  the  English  Channel.  But  any  gardener  labour¬ 
ing  here  concurrently  with  myself  for  over  thirty  years,  would 
scarcely  claim  for  it  perfection  from  a  horticultural  point  of 
view.  AV^e  experience  here  a  very  fluctuating  temperature, 
which  is  extremely  trying  to  all  vegetative  life.  Brief  spells  of 
brilliant  sunshine  at  this  season  are  quickly  followed  by  extreme 
cold  and  frost,  the  former  unduly  forcing,  the  latter  resulting 
in  retarding  and  injuring  the  immature  growth. 
Then  some  gardens  arc  much  exposed  to  devastating  gales 
like  that  raging  on  September  10  last,  and  others  subsequently 
doing  much  damage  by  “  l)urniug  up”  foliage  of  hardy  trees 
and  shrubs,  such  as  the  Ilex  and  Laurustinus,  and  playing  sad 
havoc  amongst  fruit  trees,  flowers,  and  vegetable  crops.  Visitors 
are  surprised  to  see  Oaks  and  Elms  of  .stunted  appeara)ice  all 
turned  to  the  northward,  as  it  were,  with  bowed  heads.  Aly 
object  in  penning  this  defence  of  Island  gardeners,  is  to  secure 
a  complete  elimination  from  the  minds  of  others,  that  garden¬ 
ing  here  is  a  sinecure,  or  that  we  enjoy  immunity  from  opposing 
forces  such  as  prevail  in  other  parts  of  this  country.  Success 
is  not  to  be  achieved  without  experience  and  insistent,  dogged 
determination,  with  .strenuous  application  to  all  cultural  detail 
and  management. 
So  much  has  been  written  on  the  vagaries  of  the  weather  of 
the  last  two  seasons  that  it  seems  a  labour  of  supererogation  to 
wi'ite  more,  and  we  have  come  to  regard  them  along  with  work- 
homses  and  pas.sive  resistance  as  evils  that  must  be  borne.  One 
woidd  have  to  be  of  a  Alark  Tapleyan  temperament  to  enjoy  gar¬ 
den  visitation  when  rain  comes  dri]iping  down  on  all  animate 
or  inanimate  things,  as  it  fell  on  the  Ghost  Walk  at  Chesney 
AA  old,  immortalised  by  Dickens,  during  my  holiday  from  San- 
down,  I.AV. 
Broadl.\nds. 
Broadlands  is  unlike  those  gardens  in  proximity  to  towns, 
which  are  .so  often  restricted  in  size.  It  is  a  place  typical  of  its 
name.  The  worthy  head  gardener,  Air.  T.  Rood,  is  an  old 
friend  of  long  standing,  and  our  meeting  after  a  lapse  of  time 
was  pregnant  with  pleasant  reminiscences.  The  late  AV.  G. 
Rendell,  Esq.,  was  doubtless  a  lover  of  his  garden,  and  dis¬ 
played  good  taste  in  laying-out,  and  many  improvements  were 
carried  out  by  my  old  friend  under  his  .supervision.  AAdiat  was 
originally  a  meadow  has  been  converted  into  additional  tennis 
court  and  pleasure  grounds.  Sloping  shrubbei  ies  form  the  boun¬ 
daries,  and  inside  this  a  wide  border  of  hardy  herbaceous  plants, 
edged  with  a  grass  verge,  contiguous  to  which  is  a  smooth  gravel 
path,  the  whole  forming  a  semicircle,  and  the  effect  will  be 
both  pleasing  and  imposing  as  the  season  advances.  I  noted 
amongst  the  shrubs  the  newer  forms  of  Buddleia  Colvillei  and 
variabilis,  and  some  giand  specimens  of  Choisya  ternata  thick 
with  buds. 
I  think  the  kitchen  gardens  here  are  the  prettiest  I  have 
seen.  A  centre  path,  12ft  wide,  extends  the  whole  length,  into 
which  the  others  converge,  the  whole  being  as  smooth  as  a 
drawing-room  floor,  and  not  a  weed  to  be  seen.  Fruit  trees  are 
planted  on  either  side,  ample  space  being  reserved  for  a  wide 
fringe^  of  flowering  plants.  The  Germanica  types  of  Iris  and 
also  Kaempferi  grow  vigorously.  The  fruit  trees  produce  fine 
crops  ;  and  Pears,  of  which  thei-e  are  fine  pyramids,  are  well  to 
the  fore,  Pitmaston  Duche.ss  yielding  bushels  from  one  tree 
alone.  The  plant  hou.ses  contain  a  miscellaneous  collection  of 
Callas,  Spiraeas,  Cinerarias,  and  Azaleas,  together  with  nice 
pieces  of  Ccelogyne,  ferns,  and  A.sparagus  Sprengeri.  In  a  cool 
house  are  two  robust  Alartehal  Niel  Roses,  one  running  the 
length  of  a  house  (30ft),  and  which  will  be  glorious  later  on.  A 
conservatory  has  been  added  to  the  picturesque  mansion,  with 
\yhich  it  harmonises  well.  Neatness  and  good  cultivation  are 
discernible  to  all  points,  the  place  being  suggestive  of  comfort 
and  affluence. 
Los  Altos. 
Los  Altos  is  in  close  vicinity  to  Broadlands,  and  this  is  the 
residence  of  G.  AA^.  Drabble,  Esq.  The  gardens  are  among  the 
be.st-kept  on  the  Island.  A  cordial  welcome  was  given  to  us  by 
Mr.  Niblett,  who  is  practically  head  hero,  and  Air.  Perkins,  the 
genial  bailiff,  who  supervises  the  whole  of  the  estate.  Gardening 
is  carried  out  with  zeal  and  conspicuous  success.  The  man.sion 
stands  on  a  cornmanding  position,  looking  mo.st  dignified  when 
viewed  from  points  of  vantage.  There  are  several  plantations  of 
trees  and  shrubs  for  affording  shelter,  and  also  for  privacy 
from  public  roads,  and  a  charming  private  drive  to  the  station 
has  recently  been  made  and  judiciously  planted  up.  Tlie  tennis 
courts  and  lawns  and  pleasure  g-iounds  are  tastefully  laid-out 
and  admirably  kept,  but  cleanliness  prevailing  in  every  depart¬ 
ment.  There  is  a  well-stoeked  fruit  garden  also,  with  borders  of 
flowers  for  all  seasons,  including  Roses,  and  separate  plots  of 
liardy  plants  grown  for  decorative  cutting  piirjioses.  Most  of 
the  vegetables  are  grown  at  the  farm.  Tlu'  vineries,  stoves, 
and  greenhouse  are  well-built  structures,  the  ini’iner  being  used 
for  forcing  Beans  and  Potatoes,  and  Strawberries.  The  alterna¬ 
tive  .system  of  Potato  culture  in  dark  sheds,  caves,  or  cellars, 
was  (hscus.sed,  and  Ali'.  Niblett  intimated  his  intention  of  test¬ 
ing  it  shortly,  in  oixler  to  leave  houses  clear  for  other  subjects. 
The  stove  contains  Crotons,  Adiantum  Farieyense,  Dracaenas, 
and  Panax.  Orchids  are  repiesented  by  Cypripedium  Boxalli, 
Cymbidium  Lowianum,  and  an  old  favouiite  of  mine,  Phaius 
grandifolius.  Forced  bullis  are  largely  grown,  including  some  of 
the  best  forms  of  Narcissus,  such  as  Aide,  de  Graaff.  A  spacious 
conservatory  is  attached  to  the  mansion,  and  is  bright  vith 
Callas,  also  Cineraria  cruenta  (well  grown),  bulbs,  and  Calanthe«, 
A  large  Palm  house  forms  another  feature,  and  contains  Cycads 
and  Alusas,  all  of  good  size.  Both  internally  and  externally 
Carnation,  Mrs.  T.  \V.  Lawson. 
this  hou.se  is  cpiite  in  character  with  the  architecture  of  the 
mansion,  and  is  one  of  the  pronounced  features  of  the  estab¬ 
lishment,  which,  throughout,  reflects  infinite  credit  ou  owner  and 
gardener  alike. 
L.yNDGUAED  AIaNOK. 
Landguard  Alanor,  the  residence  of  A.  H.  H.  Atherley,  Esq., 
is  situate  near  Shanklin,  and  is  quite  the  be.st  garden  in  the 
district.  Air.  Banks,  who  acts  in  the  dual  capacity  of  gardelier 
ami  bailiff,  gave  myself  and  those  who  accompanied  me  a 
courteous  reception.  This  gentleman,  a  true  stalwart  son  of 
“  Anld  Reekie,”  has  long  been  a  successful  exhibitor  at  local 
shows,  and  therefore,  in  addition  to  being  a  “  chiel  amang  us 
takin’  notes,”  he  can  also  frequently  make  notes  of  another 
kind — can  write  an  essay.  The  cultivation  of  hardy  fruits  hero 
is  extensive.  Supplementing  old  orchards,  new  ones  have  been 
