Letter and/or further information available at http://jdh.aetopia.net/p/jdh?q=jhc450.
Please cite as “JHC450,” in Ɛpsilon: The Joseph Dalton Hooker Collection accessed on 14 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/hooker/letters/JHC450
JDH describes the grounds of Cragside in Rothbury. He calls it a beautiful 'wilderness' rather than a garden & compares it to the Rhododendron region of the Himalayas & the Alleghenies of South Carolina. The owner Sir William Armstrong plants 650,00 plants a year, prominent species JDH mentons incl: Rhododendrons, Gaultheria, Ramie[?] Callunas, Ericas, Kalmias, Sedum Vaccinium myrtillus, Arbuti, Pernettyas, Polygonum sffine, Berberis & Cornel. Armstrong has offered to exchange plants with RBG Kew. There is a rock garden with [Eucalyptus?] nitens trees caulked by rock plants & a profusion of procumbent Cotoneasters. The gardener reports that the area is untroubled by weeds & JDH saw none. Was surprised by the presence of Cisti [Cistus] in such a cold place. JDH describes Cragside house as 'large & awkward' but admires the collection of paintings & extraordinary marble fire surround created by Richard Norman Shaw, who's work JDH does not generally admire. He criticises Shaw's design of the interior, commenting that is dark; even the [hydro] electric lighting being unable illuminate some areas. The house is isolated, an hour and a half from Morpeth. Describes Lady [Margaret] Armstrong as a cheery old lady who is her own housekeeper. Sir William is an wealthy ex solicitor with no family. John Hancock is at Cragside & JDH visited Newcastle Museum with him, where JDH admired the arrangement of the birds, which were superior to Landseer's & Hecknel's. A soldier Captain Salvin, relative of Osbert Salvin, is also at Cragside & has with him an otter & cormorants trained to fish.
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