26d 



of its youth and strength, by the lightning :— and then the peep of the distant 

 hills in the high corner will be its contrast. But fine as this is in its way, it is not 

 "Whitfield in the varied scenery it really offers — you must stay there, must shoot 

 or hunt — or boldly push your way as fancy takes you — and you will come upon 

 views unexpectedly, rich and varied, near and distant, and breathe an air the 

 while of a purity that tells you itself how high is the situation. Let us, for 

 example show a contrast to the ''Wood Walk," it is easy to do it. Instead of 

 turning into the pleasure grounds by the old oak, make your way up the 

 oak-covered knoll, before admired, to the Sheep-cot above, from which you will 

 catch a western view over the gardens at once rich and extensive. Then walk 

 for the Park farm, and as you gradually ascend higher ground still, the trees 

 are left beliind, and you are in full view of a wide extent of distant hUls, 

 embracing the Saddlebow, the Skyrrid, the Sugar-loaf mountain by Abergavenny, 

 and the nearer range of the Hatterill HiUs. If the wind is stirring you will 

 find a breeze to your heart's content ! But push on still to the Park farm 

 itself, if you please, for you will find there cattle worth seeing — of a breed and 

 quality dangerous to other competitors in the showyard. If trees and scenery 

 are your objects however, and not cattle, turn at the second gate to your left by 

 the hedge, and as you get over the stile you come at once in sight of the patri- 

 archal tree of the estate — old, perhaps, as the time of the Ancient Silurians, who 

 doubtless put it there — a tree of centuries indeed — the trunk of an old yew 

 tree, of very remarkable interest. It presents an aspect white, weird like, and 

 barkless. It is hollow on the south side, but on the north side hfe lingers still. 

 A few green boughs remain. One wonders how any sap can reach them, but a 

 closer examination, however, amidst the netted fibres of the dry and whitened 

 trunk, shows a tortuous stem going down to the soil, the only living portion of 

 the tree and, indeed, its mainstay. The trunk has a girth of 13ft. lOin. It is 

 altogether exceedingly picturesque and interesting. But, indeed, you must be a 

 lover of trees, and of trees only, if you have not been struck at once by the 

 beauty of its site. Looking down between the hanging wood on the left, and 

 that pheasant-haunted wood (Thruxton VaUets) on the right, you command a 

 pastoral scene of great richness and beauty, well worth the whole walk. Return 

 through the hanging wood, a way had been cut there (though not quite bioad 

 enough) along the north sheepwalk and by the second lodge to the house. 

 Then, be the weather what it may, you will have an idea of the varied scenery 

 of Whitfield, and may take the walk again and again with renewed pleasure, 

 for in the changing effects produced by variations of sun and sky, there will ever 

 be something fresh to admire. 



AVhitfield has great natural advantages, and care is being taken to improve 

 them to the utmost. Your Commissioner has only to add in conclusion, that in 

 the last few years the change that has takeii jilace here is most striking ; and 

 if he was asked to name the particular spot in the county which had most im- 

 proved during the last 20 years, he should unhesitatingly answer, "Whitfield." 

 The very colour of its grass has changed, and the trees have grown with a 



