92 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



introduced from Italy by this or a former Duke, and allowed to grow in a 

 natural sort of way, with innumerable quantities of Figs of the White Mar- 

 seilles or some small sort. There are also several plant-houses stocked with 

 decorative plants, of which Eucharis amazonica was prominent ; and we also 

 remember that the hot-water men were busy, and things consequently topsy- 

 turvy. The gardener's house is most pleasant and commodious-looking, with 

 a pretty and extensive piece of flower-garden in front. 



Through a gate in the garden-wall, and we were into the pleasure-grounds : 

 and here much pleasure awaited us. One of the prettiest lake-scenes was pre- 

 sented to us which we ever remember to have seen in a garden — a most 

 natural-artificial lake, the outline excellently managed. It was, however, in 

 process of cleaning out, and its beauty could not be so well appreciated except 

 in imagination. One side is entirely overhung by a majestic bank of foliage ; 

 the other and lower end was fringed by sloping glades of grass interspersed by 

 shrubs and conifers, Pampas Grass, and Tritomas : in the centre was a long 

 island entirely overgrown by luxuriant vegetation ; and a striking feature of 

 this island, and one much admired, is shrubs of all sorts overhanging the water 

 to such an extent that no landing from a boat seemed possible — Willows, Dog- 

 wood, Rhododendrons, and all sorts of entangled vegetation, seemed floating or 

 growing out of the water. At one point, both arms of the lake could be seen 

 lost in the distance among overhanging branches, suggesting unknown extent, 

 and the possibility of African Stanley penetrating round the distant bend in a 

 canoe of savages. 



Still farther we wended our way through a wild garden and groves of large 

 forest-trees ; and again a subtropical garden appears, with beds of Cannas. 

 Tobacco, Wigandias, and some grand old trees of Liriodendron tulipiferum : 

 and here was also a majolica balustrade round a fountain or something which 

 did not invite our taste. Suddenly at a turn a brace of peacocks in Yew de- 

 coyed us into a semi-private part of the grounds. These birds were perched 

 a considerable height, and were admirable specimens of the clipping art ; the 

 tails and head and beak were excellent. Here were also several fountains in 

 Yew, with basin above basin, repeated five or six times, the climax of the 

 hedger's art— just as the genius in confectionery who can fashion a ginger-bread 

 cake may yet aspire to a bride's cake. 



Proceeding round a turn, we come suddenly on an elevated position on the 

 top of a flight of steps, in front of a magnificent broad vista of several hundred 

 yards' length, along a terrace parallel with the front of the mansion. Half of 

 the distance is enclosed on each side by high masses of foliage, within which 

 on each side are lines of the Florence Court Yew— grand specimens— their huge 

 black green masses contrasting with the emerald green of the turf. Down the 

 middle of this vista is a broad walk which leads to the flower-garden in front 

 of the house, where the usual glories of the Pelargonium and Calceolaria are to be 

 found. Violet Hill Nosegay was here, and Mrs "William Paul, both very gay ; 

 and the white-flowered, white-foliaged Mont Blanc. A feature of this garden 

 is, that it is laid out in panels of Yew, cut as if by machinery, two or three 

 feet high, straight and level, in a style seldom seen in England, and not at all 

 in Scotland. The mansion is of a white polished limestone, Pioman in style — 

 not in the most fortunate position, one would suppose, though spacious and 

 handsome enough. We are, however, not half done with the pleasure-grounds, 

 for we have a walk of a mile by the margin of the large lake first seen on 

 entering the gate, winding through shrubberies and rflantations, with many 

 varied scenes at every turn, until, passing a long bridge over a dam and 



