July  9,  19C3. 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
27 
We  noticed  nice  pieces  of  Oncidiums,  Den- 
drobiums,  Cattleyas,  and  Begonia  God- 
seffiana.  In  a  pretty  fernery  is  an  arch  of  tufa, 
in  wliich  Adiantums,  Pteris,  and  Rex  Begonias 
luxuriate,  and  it  has  a  very  pretty  effect. 
By-the-bye,  tufa  seems  to  suit  Ferns  iiu- 
^ )  they  seem  to  fairly  revel  in  it. 
Adiantum  gracillimum  and  Asparagus,  and 
some  fine  baskets  of  Davallias  are  noticeable. 
In  the  flowering  house  were  Viburnum 
plicatum,  Cyclamens,  Ivy-leaved  Pelar¬ 
goniums,  Souvenir  de  Charles  iSirner,  won¬ 
derfully  good,  nearly  all  across  the  top  of  the 
house;  Azaleas,  Fuchsias  in  flower  on  the 
roof,  and  a  basket  of*  Lachenalia  tricolor, 
Avith  an  immense  lot  of  flower,  each  call  for 
special  attention.  V  e  also  noticed  Sutton’s 
Improved  Telegraph  Cucumbers  doing  well. 
The  Rose  garden  is  a  pretty  spot,  and 
reached  from  the  terrace  near  the  house  over¬ 
looking  the  alpine  bank  of  which  we  have 
spoken.  Sweet  Peas  are,  as  we  have  said,  a 
speciality  at  Tapton  Grove,  and  clumps  of 
choice  varieties  are  numerous.  Tlie  mansion 
is  very  prettily  and  pleasantly  situated  on 
an  eminence.  It  stands  in  its  own  grounds  of 
120  acres,  of  which  the  gardens  occupy  about 
four.  The  lawns  and  shrubberies  are  A'eiy  fine, 
some  fine  specimen  English  Yews  are  notice¬ 
able,  being  30ft.  high,  and  probably  30ft. 
through  at  foot,  and  are  wonderfully  well 
furnished  to  the  ground.  Two  pillars  of 
G-olden  Ivy  on  the  lawn  also  looked  well. 
R.  F.  Mills,  Esq.,  the  owner  of  Tapton 
Grove,  is  an  enthusiastic  horticultui-i,st, 
genial  and  pleasant.  We  were  honoured  by 
his  presence,  and  w'ere  led  to  the  conclusion 
that  he  takes  a  particular  interest  and  pride 
in  his  grounds.  He  is  a  county  councillor  and! 
member  of  the  School  Board,  and  is  ex¬ 
tremely  popular  in  the  district.  Mr.  W.  R.  Bloxham,  the  gar¬ 
dener,  is  secretary  of  the  Chesterfield  Chrysanthemum  Society, 
and  is  enthusiastic  in  promoting  the  gardening  charities,  such  as 
the  Royal  Gardeners’  Orphan  Fund,  <feo.  He  is  a  man  of  consider¬ 
able  experience,  gained  in  such  places  as  the  Duke  of  Bucking¬ 
ham’s  at  Stowe  House ;  the  Earl  of  Aylesford’s,  Packington  Hall ; 
thence  to  Moseley  Hall,  Birmingham,  and  he  was  three  years  at 
Shelton  Hall,  Newark,  and  seven  years  with  the  late  Canon 
Sutton  at  Brant  Broughton.  He  has  been  at  Tapton  Grove  some 
fifteen  years,  and  as  he  has  practically  had  the  modelling  of  the 
grounds  here,  he  is  naturally  proud  of  the  place.  In  local 
exhibitions,  too,  he  has  Avon  a  great  reputation. — W.  L. 
Cypripedium 
The  Old-fashioned  Garden. 
A  great  part  of  the  charm  of  the  really  old-fashioned  garden 
lies  in  the  fact  that  in  it  we  find  plants  and  shrubs  and  trees 
not  to  be  found  in  the  orthodox  gardens  of  to-day.  Except  in 
the  really  old-fashioned  garden,  how  seldom  do  we  come  across 
that  quaint  old  shrub  known  in  the  old  days  as  Bladder  Nut. 
Philip  Miller,  in  his  “  Gardeners’  Kalendar,”  written  during  the 
first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century,  speaks  of  it  as  such,  and 
never  thinks  of  adding  its  more  classical  name  of  Staphylea.  In 
this  old-fashioned  garden,  however,  it  is,  during  the  sunny  May 
days,  in  full  blossom.  The  pretty  pendulous  habit  of  the  creamy 
white  floAvers  has  much  of  gracefulness.  It  is  true  the  shrub 
is  not  significantly  conspicuous,  but  in  some  half  shady  place  it 
proves  a  charming  subject,  and  might  well  be  more  generally 
grown.  I  may  add  that  it  is  tall  growing,  and  not  by  any  means 
particular  as  to  soil  or  aspect. 
Another  old-fashioned  shrub  that  those  avIio  appreciate  highly 
decorative  effects  might  introduce  to  give  brilliant  display  during 
many  weeks  is  the  double  floAvered  Kerria.  It  flowers  in  favour¬ 
able  seasons  during  the  latter  portion  of  March,  throughout 
April,  and  well  into  May,  Avhile  not  infrequently  the  end  of  the 
summer  will  again  see  it  in  blossom.  It  flourishes  best  in  some 
sheltered  nook,  or  with  the  protection  of  a  Avail  behind  it.  In 
the  latter  case,  hoAA’ever,  it  should  never  be  trained  flat  upon  it, 
but  should  be  alloAved  to  retain  its  bushy  habit,  as  it  is  far  more 
artistic  thus  groAvn.  This  shrub  increases  very  freely,  sending  Aip 
new  shoots  every  year,  and  therefore  once  established,  is  easily 
increased.  There  is  also  a  single  form  that  has  much  beauty  to 
recommend  it. 
Yet  another  old-fashioned  shrub  that  should  find  a  place  in 
every  garden  Avhere  these  old-time  shrubs  and  plants  are  appre¬ 
ciated  and  treasured  is  the  Allspice  Tree,  or,  as  more  properly  I 
should  name  it,  Calycanthus.  This  is  also  a  May-flowering  shrub, 
and  if  the  deep  purple  flowers  have  no  great  brilliancy  to  recom¬ 
mend  them,  they  make,  at  any  rate,  curious  and  interesting 
subjects.  By  the  Avay,  it  always  seems  to  me  that  in  our  up-to- 
date  English  gardens  Ave  rarely  have  regard  to  the  quaint  atid 
curious,  yet  our  sense  for  these  is  as  acute  almost  as  our  sense 
of  the  beautiful,  and  is  quite  as  Avorthy  of  being  catered  for. 
But  to  return  to  the  Allspice  Tree,  or,  if  I  must,  the  Caly¬ 
canthus.  I  knoAV  it  growing  in  an  old  garden  border,  fairly 
moist,  but  in  the  full  sunshine,  and  every  year  it  is  literally 
coA'ered  Avith  blossom.  I  give  these  details,  as  there  seems  to  be 
some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  its  tastes.  An  old  authority 
tells  us  “  they  must  liaA'e  the  Avarmest  situation  and  the  driest 
soil  that  can  be  procured,”  Avhile  another  Avriter  of  much  later 
date  tells  us  “  they  flourish  best  Avhen  someAvhat  shaded  by  other 
trees,  and  where  the  ground  is  damp.”  BetAveen  these  diametri¬ 
cally  opposite  conditions  I  think  Ave  may  conclude  that  they  are 
not  particular,  and  AA’ill  groAv  almost  anyAvhere.  Practical  ex¬ 
perience  goes  to  teach  that  it  is  perfectly  hardy.  It  is  very  com¬ 
pact  and  neat  in  groAvth,  someAA’hat  dAvarf,  that  is  to  say,  attain¬ 
ing  4ft  to  oft  in  height,  and  not  too  dense  in  habit. 
I  have  one  more  old-fashioned  subject  to  speak  of  to-day,  so 
beautiful,  so  full  of  old-Avorld  charm,  and  yet,  methinks,  too 
seldom  seen — I  mean  the  pink  or  crimson  May  tree.  There  are 
double  and  single  varieties  equally  AA'orthy  of  cultivation.  Indeed, 
I  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  no  garden  of  any  considerable  size 
should  be  Avithout  one  at  least  of  these  highly  decorative  subjects. 
The  habit  of  the  Crataegus  generally  is  very  characteristic  and 
distinctive.  The  trees  should  be  alloAved  ample  room  in  Avhich 
to  deA'elop.  It  is  far  too  effective  to  be  half  hidden  amongst  a 
croAvded  belt  or  group  of  trees  and  shrubs ;  and  if  it  can  be  done, 
it  is  seen  to  the  best  advantage  Avhen  it  can  be  vieAA'ed  uninter¬ 
ruptedly  from  its  topmost  branch  to  the  point  Avhere  the  angular 
and  distinctive  stem  or  stems  meet  the  soil. 
FeAV  old-fashioned  gardens  but  Avill  be  able  to  boast  their 
Medlar  tree.  I  always  think  this  a  highly  picturesque  tree.  It 
is  effective  in  early  May,  Avhen  covered  Avith  its  large  white 
blossom,  and  then  in  early  autumn,  again,  it  is  A'aluable,  as  being 
one  of  the  brightest  tinted  among  the  loAver  growing  trees.  The 
leaves  take  on  a  gloAving  tone  that  is  most  effective,  Avhile  the 
fruit,  Avhen  vieAved  at  close  quarters,  is  quaintly  artistic  and  effec¬ 
tive,  both  in  habit  of  groAvth  and  in  contrast  to  the  foliage. — 
F.  M.  Wells. 
Hand-list  of  Coniferae. 
The  second  edition  of  the  list  of  Conifers  groAvu  in  the  Royal 
Botanic  Gardens,  KeAv,  has  recently  been  issued,  price  3d.  The 
present  hand-list  enumerates  246  species  and  461  varieties,  or 
some  700  “sorts”  in  all.  A  brief  revicAv  of  tlie  literature  deal¬ 
ing  Avith  Conifenc  is  published,  extending  to  nineteen  pages. 
