The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-07-09
Hampton, Near Towsontown.

Hampton. the residence of Mrs Charles Ridgely,
from the July number of the American Farmer
"Having recently had an opportunity Ofinspect-
ing the horticultural establishment at Hampton,
description of this place, of the Oldest and
in many respects the finest of Maryland country
seats, may not be uninteresting to our readers.
Hampton, as is generally known, is the ancient
seat of the Ridgey family. The estate lies mainly
in the beautiful Dulaney's Valley, north of Tow
sontOwn. The first view of the stately old man
sion from the Dulaney's Valley turnpike, with its
pinnaces and symmetrical dome showing in daZ-
cling white against the dark background of hills,
is singulary beautiful. To the north, down the
valley, across which line of blue haze shows
where the Gunpowder river forces its way through
the hills into the wild gorge Of Loeb Raven. lie
the farms of the estate covering thousands Of Ter
tile acres. The approach to the mansion opens
through a lofty iron gateway aanked with mas
sve pillars of white MARBLE and passes, by
well-construeted drive, through handsome bit OF
park to the north front of the dwelling caring
the mansion. the chief object of horticultural in
terest is the old orangery, and perhaps the Oldest
greenhouse structure in America. 1t is long
narrow building, having glass only on the south
side and east end. The roof is of shingles (now
covered with TIM and it is athed and plastered in
side, so that it is totally unlike greenhouses of
modern construction.
"This house still serves as the winter quarters
of probably the oldest collection of the Citrus
tribe in this country. The trees are in immense
tubs and are used in Summer for the decoration
of the lawns and terraces. The crop of lemons
and oranges Is fine, and the trees are in fair
health, but they have grown to such size that
the old building is far too small for their accom-
modation and though they receive all the care
and skllful treatment possible under the crcum-
stances from Mr.. Massey and his efficient corps of
assistants, unless they soon receive better winter
quarters their rapid deterioration is certain.
"0n the beautiful lawn, stretching from the
south front of the dwelling to the edge of grand
terrace which overOoks the flower garden, are
some fine specimen trees. The blood-leaved beech
planted BY the veteran John Feast fifty years ago
now sweeps the ground in circle fifty feet in di-
ameter, while its rounded top is fully as many
feet in air. A fine cedar of Lebanon, fifty feet
high stands in the centre of the lawn, and was
entirely unframed by the late severe winter, while
hanking the gravel walk along the top of the ter
race stands a row of our native cedars, which by
their gigantic size attract the attention of every
one and give the whole place an aspect of stately
old age Passing down the lofty terrace and turn
ing to the west, to the pant-houses proper.
These six in number, and comprise green
house, stove, fernery, grapery, rose-house, and
new and admirably planned house used for fore
ing flowers for Winter cutting. On account of the
immense demand upon him for cut flowers, and
the enormous quantity of bedding plants used in
the garden, Mr.. Massey has room to grow
specimen plants of much size, and therefore
wisely does not attempt much in that line, but
handsome specimens of rare plants of moderate
size are by no means scarce. In the rOsehouse,
seventy-fve feet long, the entire space is occu-
pied by three or four gigantic plants of Marshal
Mel that the dwarf roses have but little chance.
In the fernery fine specimens OF Clbotium glau-
cum, and other true FERNS and magnificent spe-
cimen of Adiantum Farleyense, over four feet in
diameter, find place. In the stove small COM
mencement is being made of collection of orchids,
including a Dendrobum Mobile, in a basket,
which is over four feet in diameter and had nearly
seventy flower stems.
"The amount of bedding plants used in the
gardens here is amazing. Mr.. Massey informs US
that this Summer ne has used 10, 900 Coeus 900
Geraniums, 1000 AIternantheras, with uncOunted
numbers of Verbenas Salvias, Lantanas and
ANIMALS. He estimates that the portion of the
garden annually filled with bedding stuff requires
over 10000 plants. The extreme lower fiat in the
garden is occupied a rose garden, and here
600 roses. To the east of the flower garden, shut
out from view by well-kept hedge of Arbor Vita,
lies the kitchen garden. This is of ample area,
but it is cut up with wide grass walks, and the
squares are encountered with trees, that the
furnishing a supply of vegetables from it must tax
the gardeners skill. Mr.. NJ. informs us he fun
nishes vegetables for an average of forty consum-
ers from this garden. To give some idea of the
amount of work on the garden force here Mr..
Massey tells us that he has twenty-five acres of
short grass, about twenty more of rough park
moving, five of vegetable garden, 275 flower
beds mostly cut out in sod, two and a-half miles
of gravel walks and drives, with over miles
of grass edging walks, drives and flower Dor
ders, and that he never keeps more than seven as
sistants in Summer and generally but three in
winter"