THE POETRY OF GARDENING. 103 



either side ; the irregularity of the structure increases as 

 you descend, till, on arriving on the lawn below, large rude 

 masses lie scattered on the turf and along the foundation of 

 the western terrace. 



A profusion of the most exquisite climbing roses of 

 endless variety here clamber up till they bloom over the 

 very balustrades of the higher terrace, or creep over the 

 rough stones at the foot of the descent. Here stretching 

 to the south is the nosegay of the garden. Mignionette, 

 " the Frenchman's darling," and the musk-mimulus spring 

 out of every fissure of the sandstone ; while beds of violets, 

 " That strew the green lap of the new-come spring," 



and lilies of the valley scent the air below. Beds of helio- 

 trope nourish around the isolated blocks of sandstone ; the 

 fuchsia, alone inodorous, claims a place from its elegance ; 

 and honeysuckles and clematis of all kinds trail along the 

 ground, or twine up the stands of rustic baskets, filled 

 with the more choice odoriferous plants of the greenhouse. 

 The scented heath, the tuberose, and the rarer jasmines 

 have each their place, while the sweet-brier and the wall- 

 flower, and the clove and stock gilliflower are not too com- 

 mon to be neglected. To bask upon the dry sunny rock 

 on a bright spring morning in the midst of this " wilder- 

 ness of sweets," or on a dewy summer's eve to lean over 

 the balustrade above, while every breath from beneath 

 wafts up the perfumed air, 



" stealing and giving odour," 



is one of the greatest luxuries I have in life. 



A little further on the lawn are the trunks and stumps 

 of old pollards hollowed out ; and, from the cavities, filled 

 with rich mould, climbers, creepers, trailers, and twiners of 

 every hue and habit form a singular and picturesque group. 



