ELVASTON CASTLE, 



GARDENS 



DERBYSHIRE, . . 



THE SEAT OF .... 



THE EARL OF HARRINGTON 



MONO the many regal gar- 



dens of England, few 

 are more remarkable 

 than those of the Earl of Harrington at Elvaston, in Derby- 

 shire. There are many fine gardens in which topiary features 

 exist pyramids, columns, and globes of yew, with glorious 

 hedges trimmed and cut to the evenness of a wall, but not 

 even at Levens is there anything so characteristic as 

 the quaint and curious creations of Elvaston. The history 

 of the gardens has something of an element of enchantment 

 about it, and we may well wonder to witness the formation of 

 such gardens in modern days. We have already said some- 

 thing about topiary gardens, but the subject is of such 



extreme interest that it may be useful to recall something of 

 the nature and character of such pleasaunces. It may be 

 conceded freely that verdant sculpture may be carried too far. 

 It is apt to be dissociated, though there is no valid reason why 

 it should be, from the sweeter charms that we look for in 

 gardens. Yet the cutting of trees has always exercised a 

 fascination over gardeners. Rightly used, they have regarded 

 it as investing gardens with attractive quaintness, and yet 

 with sequestered calm. Delightful truly it is to cross a green 

 court enclosed with fine yew hedges, to pass between lofty, 

 pillared urns filled with flowers, through gates, perhaps, of 

 beaten iron, and then to enter a curious world which the 

 cunning hand of the tofriarius is tending, where we find 



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THE .MOORS' ARCH. 



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