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hot seen until you reach it. The road through this noble avenue makes a 

 considerable descent to it ; it 'passes between the fishponds, and you have 

 scarcely emerged from the shade of the Alder trees when you are there. The 

 avenue is spacious in breadth, as it should be, that the tall forms of the Elms 

 may be seen to advantage, and that the small foliage of the tree may receive 

 those grand masses of light for which it is so well adapted. It is, perhaps, the 

 finest avenue in the county, as certainly it is the most striking feature of the 

 Estate. It has been planted at different times, but the trees have all attained 

 their characteristic features. Below the second gate the Elms on each side 

 are here and there alternated with Lime trees, and towards the end approaching 

 the fishponds and the house, Scotch Firs in support of the Elms form, as it 

 •were, a double avenue. The Elms are finest in the valley. The twelve last 

 trees measure in circumference, on the right side, beginning at the end, lift. 

 4in. ; 12ft. 9in. ; lift. ; 13ft. 4in. ; 12ft. 8in. ; and 10ft. ; and on the left side, in 

 the same order, 9ft. 10in.; 13ft.; lift. 5in.; 12ft. lin.; 10ft. 8in.; and lift. 2in.; 

 whilst their height is about 90ft. The Scotch Firs are not of great size (6ft. ; 

 7ft. 3in.j 8ft.; 7ft, 3in.; Sft.; 5ft. 5in.; 7ft. 4in.; Gft. llin.; and 7ft. 6in. 

 in girth), but they are drawn up into very picturesque forms. This part 

 of the avenue is very striking, and whether the dark foliage of the Firs is seen 

 in marked contrast with light-green leaves of the Elms, with which their bright 

 cinnamon coloured stems harmonize so well ; or whether when the winter has 

 left bare the handsome rugged forms of these fine old trees and the Scotch Firs are 

 fully seen ; it is extremely interesting and picturesque. 



There are other fine and lofty Elms in the approach from the Lawn 

 meadow, in girth 12ft.; 12ft. lin.; and 12ft. 9in.; which must have formed 

 originally one side of another avenue approaching the house from the south : — 

 since an old map of the Estate in the possession of Mr. Davies shows four avenues 

 from the four quarters. It is a quaintly painted map of a hundred years ago. 

 No trees of the avenues from the east and west remain — unless perchance the 

 one from the west is represented by an Elm in the garden field or paddock by 

 the canal 14ft. lin. in circumference. In this paddock is the finest "VVych Elm to 

 be found in the county. It is a remarkably well grown even balanced tree. Its 

 trunk is columnar with fine northern buttresses, and at 5 feet from the ground 

 it gives the measurement of 18 feet 10 inches in circumference. It keeps its 

 central axis well up into the tree and its branches droop well on every side as i3 

 the wont of this graceful tree. 



The garden in front of the house is shut in from the west in the most 

 effectual manner by a row of Yew trees meant to be clipped originally doubtless, 

 and by a hedge of the most substantial character, which is kept so by clipping. 

 The way in which this hedge has been varied, and concealed, leaves nothing to 

 be desired. The great bane of this country, the horrible west wind, is effectually 

 turned aside by it. 



A Deodar Cedar, of good and graceful character, is growing well toward 



