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Publishing in Monthly Numbers, at 1s. each, to be completed in One Volume 8vo,

No. VIII. appearing on January 1.,

THE SUBURBAN GARDENER,

AND

VILLA COMPANION:

COMPRISING

THE CHOICE OF A SUBURBAN OR VILLA RESIDENCE, OR OF A SITUATION ON WHICH TO FORM ONE;

THE ARRANGEMENT AND FURNISHING OF THE HOUSE;

THE LAYING OUT, PLANTING, AND GENERAL CULTURE OF THE GARDEN
AND GROUNDS;

AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE VILLA FARM, INCLUDING
THE DAIRY AND POULTRY.

FOR GROUNDS FROM ONE

AND INTENDED FOR

THE WHOLE ADAPTED

PERCH TO FIFTY ACRES AND UPWARDS IN EXTENT; THE INSTRUCTION OF THOSE WHO KNOW LITTLE OF GARDENING AND RURAL AFFAIRS,

AND MORE PARTICULARLY FOR THE USE OF LADIES.

Illustrated by numerous Engravings, chiefly Ground Plans for laying out Gardens and

Pleasure-Grounds.

By J. C. LOUDON, F. L.S. H.S., &c.

Besides original Designs for laying out and planting grounds, of various degrees of extent, from a few perches to 50 or 60 acres, with analytical and critical remarks on each design, Plans and Views will be given of some of the most celebrated small places in the neighbourhood of London, with the Mode of Management, the more remarkable Plants grown, &c. ; and including also, in some cases, the Plan of the House and the Domestic and Farm Offices. Among these will be comprised the Residence of Mrs. Lawrence at Drayton Green, of the Rev. T. Williams at Hendon Rectory, of Mrs. Marryatt at Wimbledon; of T. N. Longman, Esq., at Hampstead; of the Duke of Bedford at Camden Hill; of W. Wells, Esq., at Redleaf, &c.; and, as a conclusion to the whole, will be given an Itinerary of all the more remarkable Suburban Gardens within ten miles of London, pointing out their characteristic beauties. The information respecting fruit trees and culinary vegetables, in this work, will either be supplied or revised by Mr. Thompson of the London Horticultural Society's Garden, by special permission of the Council of the Society.

LONDON: Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, and Longmans.

THE

GARDENER'S MAGAZINE,

JANUARY, 1837.

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

ART. I. Brief Notices, made on several Occasions, when visiting some Noblemen's and Gentlemen's Seats, in the Autumn of 1836. By THOMAS RUTGER.

As many of the places named below are, in some instances, amply described in the Ninth Volume of this Magazine, I have endeavoured to avoid repetition, and only noticed such things as may be considered useful and interesting to the gardening world in general, as well as to those who may feel a particular interest in the places visited.

Ditton Park. In taking a view of Ditton Park, the seat of Lord Montagu, I was particularly struck with the fine and lofty timber trees which are growing in a soil which seems to be well adapted for all the kinds indigenous to Britain. Mr. Hutchinson, the gardener, pointed out a lime which, he said, measured nearly 130 ft. in height. In the park are some declining oaks of gigantic dimensions. In surveying the lawns, divided, as they are, into several sections, by trees and shrubs of stately growth, it occurred to me that very few places at an equal distance from the metropolis could be found to offer such advantages for the introduction of all the choice and newly introduced trees and plants, which are now becoming the ornaments of many of the principal gentlemen's seats and villas in this country. Here they would find ample protection, as well as a soil apparently well suited to their growth. Near one of the small lawns is a green-house, or conservatory, with a trellis at the back, furnished with young orange trees, which appear healthy: in front of the conservatory is the flower-garden, in a situation which I approve of, it being pretty near the house, and, at the same, time so separated from the lawns as not to interfere with them. The flower-garden is in the Dutch style, with an erection in the centre for seats, which is covered with ivy. On one side of the flower-garden there is a handsome pyramid, or cone, of the giant ivy, mixed with the Ayrshire rose, and the Virginian creeper, supported by the re

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mains of a large red cedar, to the height of about 25 ft., which (particularly when the rose is in bloom) is much admired. On walking through the grounds, Mr. Hutchinson pointed out a small vista, through which, in the distance, is seen the statue of George III., erected on the summit of the rising ground, opposite the avenue in Windsor Park, and at a distance, in a straight line from Ditton Park, of about five miles. This was recently discovered by one of the labourers, who happened to be at work on a clump situate in the direct line of the vista through which it is seen in a fine clear day the statue is perfectly visible. Upon the whole, I was much pleased with Ditton Park; not having seen, for many a long day, such a number of fine specimens of forest trees of all the different kinds, apparently competing with each other which should gain the preeminence in height and bulk of timber. At one corner of the mansion stand a horsechestnut and two other trees, which were severely scorched when the former mansion was burnt down, some twenty or more years ago; and, from their appearance, it would seem that the fire had actually laid hold of their leading branches. However, they have withstood the shock; and it is worthy of observation to see how rapidly the fine healthy new bark and wood are extending round the injured branches, and which, in a few years, will hide all defects; a proof, this, of the superior quality of the soil. Mr. Hutchinson very kindly received me with my friend, to whom he was before known; and the latter informed me that he saw considerable improvement in the kitchen-garden since he last visited Ditton Park. At the end of one of the houses, I observed three fine and vigorous young plants of the Brugmansia suaveolens in full flower, nearly 3 ft. high, grown from early cuttings, and planted out in May.

Stoke Place; Colonel Vyse.-On entering the kitchen-garden, which stands on a fine loamy soil, I was immediately impressed with the luxuriance of the crops. The garden being long, it is divided into several compartments by cross walls, which, together with those at the sides, afford sufficient room for trees of all the kinds of fruits for which walls are necessary. The trees bore ample testimony to Mr. Patrick's (the gardener) skill in their treatment; the walls nearly all being literally covered from the top to the bottom with fine wood. A few of the peach trees had a slight attack of mildew this season; but, as it came on late, they will not suffer materially. I could not help admiring a wall of morello cherries, both as it respected the trees, and on account of the very full and fine crop of fruit which they bore. On viewing this garden, I was led to consider whether or not I had ever seen one equal to it; and the only one I could bring to mind that, in my opinion, approached near to it in excellence, was at Wyke House, near Brentford; which, some thirty years

ago, was considered as one of the best gardens round London. There the garden has also the advantage of a loamy soil, but, I think, of a less soapy nature than that at Stoke Place; and it may, in consequence, be somewhat less productive.

In taking a hasty view of the pleasure-ground, Mr. Patrick pointed out what had been done by him by way of improvement; such as enlarging the water, disposing of the walks, and undulating the ground in various places with the excavated soil accumulated by adding to the water, together with the necessary work in forming the clumps and borders, planting trees and shrubs, &c.; the whole of which must, I think, be highly appreciated by all who may visit this place. The earthed up elms and cedars, noticed during your tour here in 1833 (Vol. IX. p. 525.), are still in vigour, and were doubtless saved by the causes you mentioned; namely, that "the elms spread their roots to a great distance; and, as the earthing up does not extend far from their trunks, they may be saved by that circumstance." However, a fine large oak has fallen a victim to this mode of treatment. For a farther description of the place, your readers may refer to the above page, as my principal design, in this article, is to induce all gardeners to visit this place, who may have the opportunity to do so, as I think a sight of the kitchen-garden alone will well recompense them for their pains.

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Stoke Farm. On calling at Stoke Farm, the seat of Lord Sefton, I was pleased to learn that Mr. Oldacre was at home; and, looking at him now as a father in the gardening world, the kind reception I met with was very gratifying. He took me round the kitchen-garden, which has been enlarged at the north side, and a fine wall erected, with a slip at the back. His wall trees were in fine order; and he has some handsome young pear trees coming on against the walls, which, in a few years, will no doubt be much admired. His late crops of peas were admirable, to the perfection of which the soil seems to be peculiarly adapted. Here, as well as at several places in this neighbourhood, the Brássica tribe has suffered severely from an attack of insects, which seem to baffle every means taken to retard their ravages; and whole crops of broccoli, coleworts, &c., have been destroyed by myriads of these insects in the course of a few days. I hope Mr. Oldacre, or some one in his neighbourhood, will inform you more particularly as to the nature of this apparently new enemy which has made its appearance.' The grapes here were very fine, as were most of the other things that came under my notice. The orchard particularly attracted my attention, as the trees in it, by Mr. Oldacre's judicious mode of pruning,

Since writing the above, I have received the Gardener's Magazine for October, and read the account at p. 553. of the new species of A`phis, which is, no doubt, the same as above alluded to.

present nearly a fac-simile of each other; forming fine round heads, with handsome boles, and most of them being loaded with fruit. Mr. Oldacre does not permit the branches of the trees to touch the ground, but, by pruning, keeps them about 3 ft. or 4 ft. from the surface. The family being at Stoke Farm, it was not convenient for me to have a view of the flower-gardens and grounds, which I could not help regretting; but, nevertheless, felt myself amply repaid by a sight of the kitchen-garden, and by the kind attention of Mr. Oldacre, who, as a kitchen-gardener, has for so many years preserved a high reputation.

Dropmore. On approaching Dropmore from the Burnham side, my anticipations, as far as it regards the approach to a place of such celebrity, were not realised; the soil, apparently, not being congenial to the growth of fine English timber trees; and too few of them are to be seen to give that character to the place which is to be found in some others of less magnitude. To landscape-gardeners in general, I conceive that Dropmore, with regard to the scenery of its interior, does not yield that satisfaction which they may be led to expect from mere report; but to the admirers of Flora, in all her richest varieties of beauty and splendour, when heightened by the free introduction of architectural ornaments, such as vases, pedestals, statues, &c., it cannot fail to afford a rich repast. In short, there seems to be almost a redundancy of beauty and variety here, a description of which a transient visitor can scarcely attempt to give. Mr. Frost, with a limited number of hands, when compared with former years, perseveres with the utmost ardour in improvements, and in keeping up a perpetual succession of all that is most select, rare, and beautiful in the flower-garden and its appendages; to accomplish which thousands of pots must be necessary, in the course of the season, for a constant reserve, to replace such of the flowers as are dying off in the numerous clumps and borders which he has to supply. The pinetum is still progressing, and many specimens are to be seen thriving admirably, in a soil which seems better adapted for pines than for most of the indigenous and deciduous trees of Britain. Improvements in enlarging the water, and making rough banks with the excavated soil alluded to in Vol. III. p. 263., are still carrying on, at a great outlay of labour and expense; and, for convenience as well as for ornament, a bridge is to be constructed over a part of the water. Upon these rough banks the pinetum is extending, and eventually must give a character of no ordinary kind to that portion of the grounds. The cedar drive, as it is called, consisting of a winding avenue of the cedar of Lebanon of about one third of a mile in length, begins to assume a striking appearance. The trees are of about 25 years' growth, and are planted at a distance from each other sufficient to show their

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