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this side of the lawn. It has been planted 30 years at least, is now some 30 feet 

 high, and its trunk has the circumference of 3 feet 2 inches. 



On the east side, and slightly to the'south too, a grand belt of lofty Elms 

 closely planted together forms beneath them that wilderness of pleasant shade 

 which should be close at hand in every well considered pleasure ground. An 

 excellent finish is given to the cluster by a fine Silver Fir which towers above them 

 all to "Teach the height of some 120 or 125 feet, and which can be seen from a 

 considerable distance by those who travel the high road from Pembridge to 

 Kington. Its fine bole — would that it could he more shewn towards the lawn 

 — gives the large circumference of 11 feet 9 inches, at 5 feet from the ground. 

 It is a grand tree, and gives its character to the grounds, as such a tree must ever 

 do. 



Here, as nearly everywhere else, when trees grow well, though thinly 

 planted at first, they get too thick as they increase in size, and so it comes to 

 pass that a casual observer says coolly, " Cut them down I " As if it was an easy 

 thing to do, when you have coaxed and watched them day by day and year after 

 year, until the trees have rewarded your care by growing well, and every bough 

 has gained a hold on your affections. " Cut them down ! " Your commissioner 

 sympathises deeply with the effort it must cost to remove a single tree thus 

 cherished, and he will only wish now that the fine Red Cedar, the nearest to 

 the house of the two, were 50 yards awayto the left where its handsome presence 

 would be gladly welcomed. " Cut them down'" Yes ! No doubt there is reason 

 in it ; and so your Commissioner steels his nerves. 



To a critical eye, one that rejoices in broad sweeps of greensward, never 

 tires in watching the varied effects of sunshine and cloud upon it, and ever 

 admires afresh the charming lights and shadows from the oblique rays of a 

 rising or setting sun upon its smooth green surface, the house grounds of Moor 

 Court are too much closed in by trees. It longs for vistas, not only to let in 

 broad bands of skylight, but also to admit much more of the wide space of 

 outer lawn which is now shut out. A small opening has been cut thiough to 

 the east with excellent effect, albeit the boughs are yearly dropping down and 

 spreading out to contract it. But surely another due south could be made 

 ■with even greater advantage, by removing some of the tall young Elms there 

 which seem to be growing up in gallant rivalry of the Silver Fir itself.* 



Through the opening to the east an Oak of picturesque form— and made 

 more so by a dead bough or two — is let in to the view. A noisy colony of starlings 

 made great objections when the tape was put round the bole and gave the 

 circumference of 14ft. lin. There is seen from this opening also a Sequoia 

 WeUinr/tonia, which is growing well, of which it may be interesting hereafter if 

 accurate notes are taken now. It has been planted twelve years, is now 16 feet 



* Since this report was written the Elms have been " failed," two of them actually 

 measuring over 96 feet, and the other above 100 feet in heieht. A rosery well sheltered by a 

 low laurelhedge now occupies the place of the tall young Elms just mentioned. 



