50 



GARDENS OLD AND NKW. 



many a brilliant fete. The solitude of the old English garden 

 .vas not found in such places, but it is obvious that the 

 garden-house gave rare opportunities to the garden architect, 

 and it may be doubted if there are in England any better 

 examples of his skill than the charming creations we depict at 

 Montacute. The delicacy and appropriateness of character 

 and the unity of design are most satisfactory, and may well bo 

 an inspiration to modern builders. Here is no cold formality, 

 seeming to reject the caresses of the green tilings that cling 

 fondly to garden architecture, but a distinctive aspect in 

 buildings that rightly fall into the sweet picture, and are vested 

 with many flowering climbers. The Roman soldiers of the 

 long eastern front thus look out over an interesting garden 

 from their lofty stations in the niches, and over fine balustrades, 

 curious temples, and supremely delightful garden-houses. 

 The garden is arranged as an enclosed court, and its aspect is 

 very sunny and beautiful as you walk along the terraces. At 

 equal distances on three sides, and about 2oft. from the walls, 

 you find Irish yews of fine growth. Clematis Flammula 

 wreathes the pillars, m;\'<ing a beautiful picture when in bloom. 

 On one of the walls is a i plendid specimen of Garrya elliptica 



call for fuller treatment than is possible here. Certainly in 

 aspect and character, both the house and garden must rank 

 very high, and Montacute, with Longleat and several more, is 

 indeed a notable glory of tne West. 



The walls of the house on the north side are clothed with 

 that familiar climber, the clinging Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis 

 Veitchi), of which alike the tender green in spring and the 

 reds and crimsons of autumn have a charming effect upon the 

 grey Hamhill stone. On this side is the quaint Dutch garden 

 a terrace with a wall about 6ft. high all round and on the 

 nortn and west sides of the house are closely-clipped yew 

 hedges, about i jft. in height, making a very fine feature. But 

 yews in many forms are made much of at Montacute, and give 

 character to the place. 



Beyond this characteristic court of the enclosed garden is 

 a large square expanse of turf used for croquet, and in few 

 places can the game be played amid such pleasant surroundings. 

 On the side adjoining the kitchen garden there is another yew 

 hedge, with a walk at one end, which must yet become a 

 very remarkable feature of the garden at Montacute ; and 

 when, in the course of time, the tops meet, a covered yew 



Copyright. 



Cminlrv I i 



THE MANY-WINDOWED WALL. 



that fine winter-flowering shrub which is never happy except 

 upon a wall, unless it be in the sunny gardens of Devon and 

 Cornwall. 



It is not surprising to find this Somersetshire garden partly 

 formal in character. It is an example both interesting and 

 elaborate, as we have seen, and should be visited by all who 

 desire to find a splendid illustration of this period or form of 

 the gardener's art. Here walled courts or terraces command 

 extensive views of the romantic surrounding country. We 

 walk among glorious clipped yews, which are one of the 

 chief distinctions of the place, and add a great deal to its 

 interest. They are clipped indeed, but no topiary monstrosity 

 is thus produced, and quaintness and not aggressive surprise 

 is the result. 



But the terraces of Montacute chiefly contribute to the 

 line effect. The great terrace overlooking the west gaiden 

 is 4jft. wide a truly noble feature. The walled terrace 

 on thi' i-.tM side has the special beauties alluded to, and many 

 others that the reader will conceive, in flowering bushes and 

 man)' radiant beds, (jrass slopes and terraces leau down to 

 other gardens, and some other features of Montacute might 



walk will be formed. Arcaded walks were a favourite, if not a 

 common, feature in old gardens, and the most famous ye'i 

 remaining is that strange " cradel walk, for the p-rple.ved 

 twining of the trees very observable," as Evelyn describes 

 Queen Mary's Bower of vvych elm at Hampton Court. 

 Neighbouring the yew walk at Montacute is a fine specimen of 

 the blue Atlantic cedar (Cedrus atlantica glauca), betwivn 

 4oft. and 5oft. high, of which the blue-green colouring is very 

 charming and distinctive. 



But the effect of yews and cedars is sombre and imposing 

 rather than attractivqf They lend, however, rare character 

 to Montacute though we believe their number has been 

 reduced in recent years and give fine relief by their contrast 

 to borders of hardy flowers. Roses flourish on their own 

 roots, and, in one favoured situation, upwards of a hundred 

 vigorous bushes of the most beautiful kinds fill the place with 

 fragrance, and furnish many bowlfuls for the house in the 

 summer. But Montacute is equally beautiful in the spring 

 when the trees put forth their green, and when a thousand 

 bulbous plants shoot up through the grass, or in autumn, 

 which gives it a richer charm. 



