941
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
Jcne 3, 1899.
A commodious farm .homestead, with 124 acres of land, forms lot three. The homestead is arranged on four sides of a spacious yard, and comprises two brick and tiled cottages with good gardens, four capital oast houses (three kilns), and a range of stabling for 19 cart horses. There are also a large barn, waggon lodge, piggeries chaff-house, long ranges of timber and slated cattle sheds, etc. The land is chiefly rich arable and pasture, interspersed ־with large fruit plantations. Farnirgham Wood, with arabla, fruit and woodland of 118 acres, together with four cottages and bullock sheds, comprises lei four, the remaining four lots embracing various enclosures of land.
It may be added that the estate is about one mile from Farningham-road Station, about one and a half miles from Swanley Junction, on the main L. C. and D. Railway, and about 18 miles frrm Loi den.
PROPERTIES IN THE MARKET.
In that pleasant part of Hertfordshire which lies between the ancient city of St. Albans׳ and the thriving town of Watford lies the Garston estate, a freehold residential property, which is to be offered to auction at the London Mart, on Monday, July 10, by Messrs. Sedgwick, Son and VVeall, of Watford. The estate comprises some 185 acres, and the residence is a picturesque old-fashioned structure, delightfully seated in a richly timbered park, and surrounded by charming gardens and pleasure grounds. There is an excellent set of stabling with a turret clock, and some distance from the house there is a farmhouse and homestead, together with three cottages. In the village of Garston are ten superior cottages with good gardens. The estate has important frontages to the main road from Watford and St. Albans, and portions of the land might be advantageously developed for building purposes.
Dublin is, of course, the great political and social centre of Ireland, but the line old city of Cork is in no way less attractive to the visitor and the tourist; it is, in fact, as we remember an Irishman of our acquaintance frequently proclaimed aloud, “ a rere foine city!” It goes without saying that in such a, busy city and port a theatre of varieties is certain to flourish, and the offer to auction of the chief house of the kind in Cork, by Messrs. J. H. North arid Co., at their rooms, 110, Graf ton-street, Dublin, is pretty certain to arouse widespread interest. ^ The theatre is a. handsome structure occupying a commanding positron adjacent to the chief thoroughfares of Cork, and provides accommodation for an audience of 1,500. There is a good stage, with ample dressing accommodation, and the interior of the house is beautifully decorated.
Within a short distance of the gay and fascinating town of Brighton, which has been aptly styled “ the most popular seaside resort in the world,” is the charming residential estate known as Clayton Priory, Clayton, which Messrs. Maple and Co. will sell by auction at the Mart, Tokenhouse-yard, on June 14. The property stands in a splendidly timbered park, and possesses nearly a mile of frontage to the main Brighton road, which, with the old manor house, pleasure farm, cottages and land adjoining, forms a total area of about 257 acres. The house is a moderate-sized country mansion, approached by a winding carriage drive, about a quarter of a mile in length. There are delightful pleasure grounds, walled kitchen garden, two vineries, small farmery, stabling, coachhouse, etc.
There is one characteristic which is invariably associated with Yorkshire, and that is its beautiful moorland scenery. In a district especially famous in this respect is situated the attractive residential or farming estate, known as Hazle-head Hall, Thurlstone, which is to be sold by Messrs. William Bush and Sons, at their Sale Booms, Church-street, Sheffield, on June 13. The estate comprises about 197 acres (mainly grass), and, in addition to the Hall (which is a comfortable and commodious residence), there are also detached farm bailiff’s house, and most extensive, substantial and well-arranged farm buildings and cattle yards, including accommodation for nearly 100 horses and beasts. The property is particularly suited for breeding pedigree stock and Shire horses. The river Don adjoins the estate, and affords capital trout and other fishing.
It would be difficult to suggest a more romantic situation than that enjoyed by the residential estate of Drygrange, which is to be sold at Mr. Dowell's Booms, 18, George-street, Edinburgh, on June 28. It is within three miles of Melrose, and about four miles from Dryburgh Abbey and Abbotsford. The estate, which extends to about 1,250 acres, is of great natural beauty, being situated at the junction of the
“pranks,” parningham, Kent•
NE of the places passed through by Chaucer and his friends in the course of their famous pilgrimage to Canterbury was Dartford, the picturesque little Kentish town, which stands in a narrow valley, between two steep hills, famous also in connection with the insurrection under Wat Tjler.
Dartford is ako worthy of attention on account of two or three of its historical buildings. The nunnery, founded by Edward III., which was conveited after the dissolution into a royal palace, passed for a time to Anne of Cleves, and was inhabited for two days in 1573 by Queen Elizabeth. It passed by barter to Sir Robert Cecil, was held on life-lease by Sir Edward Darcy, and got then the name of Place House. The edifice appears to have been very extensive, and a small part of it, not earlier than the time of Henry VII., still stands, and is now used as a farmhouse.
A chantry-cbapel, dedicated to St. Edmund the Martyr, and situated in a cemetery of its own on the opposite side of the town, belonged to the nunnery, and was in such great repute by pilgrims to Canterbury that the reach cf Watlirig-street leading to it often took the name of “ St. Edmund’s Way,” but it has entirely disappeared. The pilgrims resorted chiefly to St. Thomas a Becket’s chapel on the north side of the parish church, which was used for that purpose until the time of Henry VIII.
A little less than five miles from Dartford is the magnificent Tudor edifice known as Franks, which was built in the time of Elizab°tb, by Alderman Bathurst. It has been
“ FHANKS."
restored at great expense, and with exquisite taste, and it is to be offered to auction, at the London Mart, on Tuesday, June 20, by Messrs. Df.benham, Tewson, Farmer and Bridgewater, of 80, Cheapside, E.C. The property will first be offered in its entirety and if not then sold, in eight lots.
In addition to the grand mansion, this very attractive freehold residential estate includes ample stabling, farm buildings, cottages, etc., with several enclosures of rich meadow, arable, fruit and woodland, the whole property embracing an area of 481a. 2r. 5p., and extending to the parishes of Farningham, Horton Kirby and Sutlon-at-Hone.
The mansion itself is of redbrick and stone, acd is a fine example of the Elizabethan style of architecture. It is approached by a carriage drive protected by a picturesque entrance lodge. The rooms throughout the house are of handsome proportions and beautifully decorated. A distinctive feature of the interior is a very beautiful suite of Alhambraic apartments, including a dressing room fitted with very costly Alhambra ceiling and wall decorations, inlaid and carved doors, bath room similarly decorated, and Turkish bath with costly tiled walls. This suite was elaborately decorated by the architect to the Spanish Government, and is considered a very fine specimen of a Moorish-Arabio interior. Also deserving of notice is the very handsome drawing room or salon measuring about 36ft. by 20ft.; the Queen’s bed room or music room, fitted with a deep bay and other windows, panelled oak walls, panelled ceiling with the royal arms, E.R. • and the fine picture gallery.
The beautiful pleasure gardens it is impossible to praise too highly. They are characteristic of the famous period at which the house was erected, being laid out in the most perfect taste. Here are wide-spreading lawns for croquet, bowls, lawn tennis, etc., parterres and flower gardens, screened and sheltered by fine forest trees cf mature growth, terrace walks, and a magnificent avenue of lime trees ; an ancient gateway being a charming feature. There is a picturesque pavilion or tea-house elaborately fitted and erected on a raised terrace paved with marble, with stone steps and balustrades. Intersecting the pleasure grounds is the river Darentb, well-known for its excellent trout fishing, and forming a charming feature in the landscape with its picturesque waterfalls, rustic bridges, islands, and shady riverside walks. On the river on the east side of the mansion is a house fitted with electric dynamo worked by the water power, and on the west side is another summer-house (built to nearly correspond with the pavilion or tea-house), now used in connection with the electric light as a switch or store-house. There is also a third pavilion or summer-house in the wood on the west side of the house. Altogether the mansion and grounds, which form lot one, embrace an area of 165 acres.
Lot two comprises a freehold building site of nine acres and the detached residence, known as Riseley House, with grounds of about three actes.
iorestrti :
ITS SCIENCE AND PRACTICE.
CONDUCTED BY
CHARLES E. CURTIS, F.S.I.,
Professor of Forest Economy, Field Engineering, and General Estate Management at the CoUege o' Agriculture, Downton. etc, etc.
ASH-BARK SCALE.
I was asked a few days ago to examine and report upon an ash plantation which was evidently in a weak and declining condition. Some of the growths from the stools were dead, and even the stools were dying; none looked healthy over a rather extensive area. There was no need to travel far before arriving at a conclusion, for the whole plantation was attacked by the ash bark scale. The plantation was growing in a tenacious clay of the lias formation, where the soil was somewhat damp through the oozing of water from the hill above. Even under ordinary circumstances, the ash would not probably hav• done well on such land, and it is peculiarly liable to attack of scale when in a weak or feeble condition. But, it may be asked what is scale?
The ash bark scale (chionaspis paxini) is an insect which infests the bark of ash in large numbers, piercing the bark with its sucker and feeding upon the sap, to׳ the injury of the tissues and !the deprivation of nourishment. The scales are white, and of a soft leathery consistency, and somewhat mussel-shaped, though the form is often irregular. Beneath this scale, which serves as a covering for the insect and eggs, lies the female, and at the wider end are the crimson eggs containing the larvae. When the bark is rubbed a red fluid like blood׳ will be seen, which is the result of the crushing of these minute red eggs. A student may study this pest under a microscope of low power, !treating it as an opaque object.
There is practically no remedy, except when it occurs in the nursery, when it may be washed with soft soap, or other application used in orchards. It will be wise, however, to cut down and bum whatever wood is affected, but few care to do this as the loss may be considerable.
SALES OP TIMBER.
I have before me the particulars and conditions of a sale of over 600 sticks of elm, oak and ash, held in the autumn. The prices were unusually high, owing almost entirely to the some what large number of trees, and to the fact chat the size and quality were exceptional. It is this massing of lots into one sale which yields the desired success.
FORESTRY EXAMINATION PAPERS.
Papers can be had on application, if a foolscap envelope is sent, stamped and addressed. It will save trouble if the application is made direct to Moor View, Brockenhurst, Hants.
YOUNG PLANTATIONS.
I am still treading in and re-earthing the young trees planted in the winter. All have done well but the Scotch pine, which have been sadly wind-whipped. The season has not been good so far for newly-planted trees. The cost of this operation will range from 7s. 6d. to 10s. per acre.
THE RURAL EXODUS.
The scarcity of labouring men is much felt in many rural districts. The more remote those districts are the more is׳ the dearth felt. I am only able ■to obtain men who are not professedly agricultural labourers; men who dig wells, and work for local builders, and such like. And tne consequence is! they will not work under 3s. to 3s. 6d. a day, when the bona fide agricultural wage is but 11s. a week. Old men can be sometimes found, but even these want the wages׳ of the younger men. Among my staff this season is an Inlcerman hero, who delights, while resting, to recount that celebratel battle.
SURVEYORS' INSTITUTION EXAMINATIONS.
Candidates for the next examinations will do well to take up their forestry at once, and pursue their studies throughout the year. It is not a subject which can be crammed during the last few months. It must be learnt in the woods, the nursery, and the study.
RECIPE FOR KILLING WEEDS IN PATHS AND ROADS.
In reply to G. W. D. S., I know of no method better than the application of strong brine. Mix salt with water until an egg will float, and then apply with a watering can. Let the ground be well soaked, and, if necessary, apply again a week or so later. It will help materially if the weeds are hoed or picked out before watering.