140 THE GARDENER. [March 



no matter in what direction they come, the rain and wind have com- 

 plete toleration to enter at every corner. 



My next move was to the pleasure-ground : somewhat extensive, 

 and containing at the extremity a large sheet of water, partly an arti- 

 ficial increase by an extension of the river Avon. This is rather a 

 sluggish river, flowing immediately under the castle walls ; and what 

 may surj^rise others, as it certainly did me, was to find in such a place 

 a flour-mill keeping up an incessant clack-clacking : true, there may 

 be music in a noise of that kind, but to the majority, I fear, it is 

 rather harsh. This department was not highly kept ; profit appears 

 to be a greater object than pleasure, so that there is only a small portion 

 set apart as dress ground. The majority of the trees are such as are 

 usually to be found in park scenery. There is a considerable number of 

 the Lebanon Cedar, when in full vigour a beautiful object ; but nearly 

 all have reached their climacteric, and show signs of decay. Here and 

 there are dotted a few specimens of Conifera, but not of sufficient interest 

 to claim any share of our attention. On an elevated position overlook- 

 ing the lake, at a considerable distance, stands the conservatory ; and if 

 the name designates a plant-house, there could not possibly be a more 

 flagrant misa23plication. The roof is slated and plastered inside, sup- 

 ported in front by columns, between which are glazed sashes, admit- 

 ting just enough light to torture vegetation. The only plant of value 

 was a healthy and handsome Dicksonia antarctica — apparently just 

 the situation it requires. 



In the centre, on a square marble pedestal, stands the celebrated 

 "Warwick Yase," designed of white marble, and executed in the 

 purest Grecian taste, believed to be one of the finest specimens of 

 ancient sculpture at present known. Nothing is certain as to its 

 early history beyond that it was found at the bottom of a lake at 

 Adrian's Villa near Tivoli. The shape is circular, and it holds 136 gal- 

 lons. Two large handles are attached, formed of interwoven vine- 

 branches, from which the tendrils, leaves, and clustering grapes spread 

 round the upper margin. It rests upon vine-leaves that climb up its 

 sides. In addition to these, there are the heads of satyrs bound with 

 wreaths of iv}^, the vine-clad spear of Bacchus, and the crooked staff 

 of the Roman augurs. These were court officials who professed to 

 foretell coming events by sacrifices and divinations of various kinds. 



At present there is no flower-garden, only a few miscellaneous beds 

 scattered about the pleasure-ground of various shapes and sizes. But 

 apparently something is to be done, as I observed in front of the con- 

 servatory the marking of a new terrace-garden. 



"Warwick Castle is said to have been founded in the year 915, by 

 Ethelfreda, daughter of Alfred the Great, but how much, or if any, of 



