138 AN AMERICAN FARMER IN ENGLAND. 



style, with less labour, and was much frittered away in the 

 confusion of ornament. 



This garden is a curiosity. It is in the geometrical style, 

 and covers eight acres, it is said, though it does not seem nearly 

 that to the eye. It is merely a succession of small arabesque 

 figures of fine grass or flower beds, set in hard, rolled, dark- 

 coloured gravel. The surface, dropping by long terraces from 

 the steps of the hall to the river, is otherwise only varied by 

 stiff pyramidal yews and box, and a few vases. On the whole, 

 the effect of it in connection with the house, and looking towards 

 it, is good, more so than I should have expected ; and it falls 

 so rapidly, that it affects the landscape seen in this direction 

 from the house but very little. This is exquisitely beautiful, 

 looking across the Dee, over a lovely valley towards some 

 high, blue mountains. From other parts of the hall grand 

 vistas open through long avenues of elms, and there are some 

 noble single trees about the lawn. 



This English elm is a much finer tree than I had been 

 aware of very tall, yet with drooping limbs and fine thick 

 foliage ; not nearly as fine as a single tree as our elm, but 

 even more effective, I think, in masses, because thicker and 

 better filled out in its general outline. 



The hall was undergoing extensive alterations and re 

 pairs ; and all* the grounds immediately about it, except the 

 terrace garden, were lumbered up with brick and stone, and 

 masons sheds, and in complete confusion. Being Saturday, 

 all the workmen had left, and it was long before we could 

 find any one about the house. We had got very thirsty, and 

 considering that such a place would not be left without any 

 tenants, determined to rouse them out and get a drink. 

 After hammering for some time at a door under the principal 

 entrance, a woman came and opened it a few inches, and 

 learning our wish, brought us a glass of water, which she 



