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ENGLISH PLEASURE GARDENS 



Bra 



Melbourne. 



first laid out, and the new gardens begun under Charles II 

 and completed in the two following reigns. Later Kent 

 swept away the parterres of embroidery and many 

 other curious features, substituting for them the 

 present lawns of grass. Enough remains, however, 

 to form one of the most delightful series of gardens 

 in England. 



At Bramham in Yorkshire is the most extensive 

 and in certain respects the finest specimen of the 

 French style in England. The park containing hun- 

 dreds of acres is covered with a forest of magnificent 

 trees pierced with broad avenues. As the ground is 

 hilly there are opportunities for beautiful vistas, which 

 in some cases are terminated with handsome vases. 



The water-works are exten- 

 sive ; a long canal reflects 

 the foliage on its surface like 

 a mirror. The spirit of Ver- 

 sailles has never been more 

 delightfully reproduced. 



Another very charming 

 garden in the French style 

 is at Melbourne. Sir John 

 Coke, Secretary of State 

 under Charles I, acquired 

 the estate in 1628. The present gardens were laid out 

 for Thomas Coke, afterward chamberlain to George I, 



