is a beautiful boat with golden oars, in which we paddled from island to island, 

 viewing and comparing the growth of trees, the formation of artificial rocks, and 

 the design of the planter, where the towering Douglas and Norway Firs were 

 flanked by our Hemlock Spruce, which makes an agreeable tree for rock and water 

 scenes ; its delicate foliage and drooping branches kissing the ripple of the silver 

 lake, adding new charms to the scene ; one of our most common trees luxuriating 

 in those fairy isles with native splendor. Those trees were not planted on low 

 mud islands, but on high, artificial hills, nearly every foot of which had cost a 

 shilling to the spirited owner, whose great delight was to employ the poor in 

 creating those objects of his fancy. His sole pleasure was planning, planting, 

 and replanting — the cost rarely estimated ; the question was, can it be done? On 

 the margins and inlets of this romantic sheet of water, great effect is produced by 

 the shades of foliage. The Austrian, Corsiean, and Norway Pine, give dark shades ; 

 the Silver, Scotch, Bhotan, and Sabin Pines, give light shades, using the Deodar, 

 on all occasions, for union of design ; the Khutrow Cemtljran and Silver give green 

 shades, with an occasional Yew, whose histories go back into other centuries, and 

 give a tone of ancient and modern grandeur, which must be seen to be fully realized. 

 On the south of the lake, and very near the mansion, is formed a grotto and foun- 

 tain, where all the gems of dwarf evergreen-trees, lava, and rocks, are collected, 

 and rather systematically arranged, which appears to have been the prevailing taste 

 of his Lordship. How wonderful are the productions of the vegetable kingdom ! 

 it can only be realized in collections thus brought together. 



We have been admiring the rapid growth of many of the firs and pines, fre- 

 quently exceeding five feet in a season. What are we now to say of those minia- 

 ture affairs, such as Abies clanbrasiliana ; those Pigmy and Hudson Firs, some of 

 which were twenty years old, and had not attained the height of as many inches. 

 The view from this point across the lake, was on the artificial ruins of an old 

 castle, composed of rocks, pieces of buildings, tufa and limestone formations, 

 covered with ivy and wild flowers, all erected within a few years, and appearing 

 as having stood for ages on a spot that was a low meadow as late as 1831. All 

 the walks in the vicinity of this lake, and, indeed, for miles, were asphalted, by 

 taking four parts of clean gravel, and one part of quicklime, and gas tar suflicient 

 to make the whole of the consistency of mortar ; this was heated on plates of iron, 

 and laid down whilst hot about two inches thick, and has become as hard as 

 marble. 



So much was I absorbed with what I could barely realize to be real, that 10^ 

 o'clock of the night found me under the soft silver beams of the moon, still en- 

 joying those magical scenes, where I had seen but yesterday, comparatively, the 

 muddy pool skirting the field of the mower. I retired to rest, but found none 

 for ray excited imagination. The early dawn (2^ o'clock) found me alone amidst 

 the golden-crowned Yews of the winter garden ; not altogether alone, I found, 

 for there followed me the silent watchman of the night, who has trod the rounds 

 for seventeen years, amongst those, to him, no doubt, monotonous scenes. 



The thorough secret of the successful growth of all I have seen, consists in a 

 complete system of under-drainage, the ground being so level the main drain had 

 to be extended one and a half miles in a direct line. All the leading trees are 

 planted on mounds of earth. No tree was too large to remove, and none too 

 small to plant ; every power and facility was on the spot ; all fibrous roots, on 

 removal, were securely protected; copious waterings were given ; strong stays of 

 No. 8 wire were fixed from the ground to various parts of the tree, to prevent 

 " eing displaced after planting ; evergreens were successfully removed at all 

 times, but preference given just before their growth. Even a Yew that had 



