HORTICULTURE IN THE SUBURBS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 10229, 22 June 1883, Page 2

HORTICULTURE IN THE SUBURBS.

It has often been a subject of wonder on the part of visitors to the colony from the Old World, that so little is done by our settlers in the way of horticulture in its higher branches, landscape gardening, or the other scientific adaptations of . nature, by which life is rendered more enjoyable, and by means of which those in possession of ample means are able to minister to the tasteful instincts of the community, as well as to gratify themselves, in and around Wanganui there are many private residences, standing in grounds possessed of such natural advantages, that it seems a thousand pities that want of funds or absence of taste prevents their cultivation. Colonial civilisation is at any rate sufficiently advanced to justify attention being given to domestic horticulture, and any movement in that direction is to bo welcomed. We paid a visit a few morning's ago to Mr S. T. Fitzheriwfc's compact plno3 at the corner of the Eiver Bank road and the Brunswick Line, where Mr James Laird, of the Egmont Nurseries, has almost completed some extensive improvements in the garden, lawns, shrubberies, and paddocks, of such a nature tnat a brief description will not "be devoid of interest. Mr Fitzherbert has very nearly eight acres, the house and g/ounds standing in about two, and the remaining five being devoted to paddock accommodation. Up to within the last few weeks, the house had attached to it only a small kitchen garden and a lawn of moderate dimensions, the rest of the estate being very rough uneven land, covered with fern and gorse. Determined to redeem one gentleman's place, at least, from any horticultural reproach, Mr Fitzherbert has had his grounds laid out upon a design of his own invention, the carrying out of the work, involving tree planting and the construction of lawns, being entrusted to Mr James Laird. Great alterations and improvements have accordingly been made, and when the result reaches maturity another season, Mr Fitssherbert's grounds will be a model of their kind. Part of the rough ground already alluded to has been levelled and sloped at the end, towards the boundary gorse hedge, and a beautifully level lawn tennis ground, 114 feet square, has been formed. The sward is as flat and even, and soon will be as green, as a billiard table, and there is ample space for two tennis courts, facing either north or south or east and west, so that the players can always avoid the glare of the sun in their game. This tennis ground is semi-circular headed, the rounded- off portion being planted with choice shrubs, which before long will afford a cool and pleasant resting place for players and spectators. The tennis ground is surrounded by an eight-feet gravel path, wide enough to permit a vehicle to be driven along it, andbayond the path, and between it aud the boundary fences, a- shrubbery surrounds the whole. On the slope at the end there are_ planted apple tiees and nuts of various kinds, aud the evergreen shrubs all round consist of araucaria bedwillii, spruce firs, rhododendrons, and a large and varied assortment of other hardy ornamental trees from the Egmont Nurseries. The ground amongst the shrubs is sown in grass, and it is con fidently believed that iv the heat of summer the sloping ground already alluded to will prove a delightful retreat, j There is a 12-inch grass verge laid down ! at the edge of the shrubberies, and beyond that there is space left for plautiug flowoiiiisr annuals of attractive kinds. A woo<len fence cuts off the house, grounds, and lawns, from the paddock, which has been cleared, levelled, ploughed, and sown in oats, preparatory to being Jaid down in grass and divided into smaller paddocks for convenience. The older garden, immediately adjoiniug the house, still remaius, and will he entirely devoted to fruit and flowers. The old lawn also remains, and, with the new and spacious tennis ground, will afford Mr Fitzberbertand his guests abundant opportunity to indulge in the fashionable, if somewhat effeminate.game to their heart's content. Mr Fitzherbert is a believer in gorse for boundary hedges, and it accordingly remains to protect the place on all sides, but it has been trimmed and confined within its strictly legitimate bounds. Inside the gorse hedge by the Eiver Bank road, Mr Laird has planted a row ofbuddleaglobosn, which trees, although hardy and calculated to take away the by no means cheerful aspect of a gorse lioilgo, do not in themselves form sufficient protection to keep out horses or stock. On tho other side of the grounds, nnd m?W.o the dh-irtiupr wooden fc-noo, a row _of r.oaoia.T hava baon planted, so thai in course of timo the lawn tennis ground will bo hammod in on three ■ irlea at least by Bhrnlj'wjns iml fi-,o ■haclo of pietu'O-f|'.::' Ei-aw. 'H.a i'i iV ii onii to tins jvJaca of Mr THtrhov c-rtVj

have been so extensive that it is difficult to recognise it under its present neat and trim aspect ; and the residence, outbuildings, stables, concrete courtyards, and other notable features, combine to place the owner in possession of a tasteful house of which he will have reason to be proud, and to which great increased value must attach ere long. That such a well-ordered and appointed place could be found within easy radius of town is an encouraging jign of

the times, and we welcome it accordingly. The manner in which the works have been caniedout, and the judicious selection of shrubs and trees, are both worthy of tha reputation of Mr James Laii'd, in whose hands any gentleman with a taste for horticultural beauty may find himself safe, and in whose judgment he can perfectly rely, 'i he work has-been more immediately carried out by Mjr Crichton, as foreman, whose labours have afforded every satisfaction.