310 BRIEF REMARKS. 



either hand the Holly was displaying its rich green hue, and profusely 



adorned with their splendid scarlet and red berries, forming some of the 



brightest ornaments of the season. The Ivy, too, hung aloft in the 



richest green, bearing its thousand corymbous heads of flowers; while 



the Wild Rose-hips and haws, glittering like beads in thousands, highly 



gladdened the scene. The wood being part of a rich nobleman's 



domain, where pheasants in multitudes were preserved, and as these 



beautiful birds are fond of the fruit of the Snowberry, a vast number of 



clumps had been planted. Now, the bushes being five feet high, and in 



full bearing condition, the innumerable white berries, hanging like so 



many pearls, added beauty to the scene; and the rich colours of other 



adorned plants appeared more brilliant by closer contrast. By the 



sides of some walks which had been formed, and leading from the 



mansion, evergreen and other shrubs had here and there been planted 



for ornament. The surface soil being formed (I examined it) of loam, 



peat, and the decayed leaf-mould, it proved admirably adapted to the 



growth of those plants. Rhododendrons abounded in the hollows, and 



in summer must be gay indeed. Large plots, too, of the charming 



Berberis aquifolia, with its leaves of varied hues of colour, from the 



brightest shining green to the richest crimson, produced a striking 



effect ; and whilst in spring the vast profusion of rich yellow blossoms 



must be gay beyond imagination, now the bushes are laden with its 



clusters of fine blue berries. As if to give in every movement a more 



enchanting view, a number of the very ornamental Spindle trees or 



bushes had been interspersed. There were three species now bowing 



their heads beneath the vast numbers of their pendulous fruit. The 



rich red exterior, in contrast with the fine orange-coloured berries, 



rendered them most charming objects. To change the scene, some new 



species of Thorns had been planted, and some were most admirably 



decorated with fine fruit. Those having yellow berries were situated 



to give greater contrast to the black and scarlet of others. Some had 



fruit as large as cherries, inviting both to sight and taste.* 



In appropriate banks I observed the Mountain-ash branches bend- 

 ing with their large terminal heads of brilliant scarlet fruit. The 

 Arbutuses were in bloom, and at the same time had a profusion of large 

 fine fruit to additionally adorn them. The dry subsoil seemed to pro- 

 mote their fruit-bearing properties. The Lauristinus stood in the fore- 

 most rank, and its waxy-white heads of blossoms were in vast profusion. 

 To afford a refuge for the game, large plots of the fruit-bearing Privet, 

 clothed with panicled heads of its black berries, were not the least 

 interesting objects ; and a second source of shelter was supplied in the 

 appropriate tracts of the pretty yellow r -blossomed Furze, or Whin, a 

 quantity of which was in bloom. 



The nearer the mansion, the greater the variety of tree, shrub, and 

 flower. My notes of all I admired are too lengthy for the present, and 

 will be sent for another Number. I must, however, add, I was privi- 

 leged to view the well-kept flower-gardens ; and the grandest sight of 



* The two best are Crataegus aronia, yellow-fruited, and C. orientalis, scarlet- 

 fruited, very large and abundant. — Conductor. 



