260 BEAUTY OF OUR TURF. 



his newly-cleared walks, of the delight he took in 

 watering his carnations, and of his little walks to 

 see a shrub or a flower upon the point of blossom- 

 ing. He mentions the delights of his hay-harvest, 

 when the activity of country-people is seen in a 

 pleasing employment, and when pinks, woodbines, 

 and jasmines, are in their prime. Few things, 

 he adds, afford him so much pleasure at that time, 

 as lolling on a bank in the very heat of the sun. 

 His neighbour, Lord Littleton, ornamented Hag- 

 ley in the happiest manner; and the beautiful 

 scenery will not readily be obliterated from the 

 minds of those who have seen it. 



It is, however, only amongst gentlemen of in- 

 dependent fortunes in this country, devoted to hor- 

 ticultural pursuits, that we must seek for gardens 

 and conservatories stored with the choicest plants 

 and flowers. 



A few years ago, the only eminent landscape- 

 gardener at that time in France, brought me a letter 

 of introduction. His chief object was to see the gar- 

 dens of private individuals, of which he said he had 

 heard so much. I took him to several ; and his 

 astonishment at seeing the well-kept gardens, the 

 rare plants in them, and the verdant lawns, was un- 

 bounded. He was constantly exclaiming, " Votre 

 gazon ! nous n'avons pas de gazon en France/' 

 He wondered at the expense the English went to 

 in having their lawns so constantly mown, and at 



