60 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



attractions, for the foliage of the evergreens, which is the 

 chief note of the picture, is never so rich as then. Thuias 

 and the welcome junipers are planted with excellent effect, 

 and, in association with them, the beautiful variegated maple 

 (Acer Negundo) in the form of low standards a tree of great 

 charm, but needing to be used with caution by reason of its 

 pronounced leafage ; here, indeed, looking splendid, with the 

 scarlet lobelia beneath it, which is beautiful both in leaf and 

 flower-colouring, and will add much to the attractions of any 

 garden in the early autumn where it is planted freely and boldly. 

 The west front is very different. Here the lawn creeps 

 up tosvards the sunken ditch of the moat and the house, of 

 which the view is unobstructed, and thus presents itself with 

 very imposing effect. Ivy clusters upon the walls and 

 terraces, giving colour and character, but without hiding 



one place there are a couple of magnificent Oriental planes, 

 neighbouring one another, but sufficiently far apart to allow 

 room enough for each. The branches of these hoary monsters 

 are about i6yds. in length, and, hanging with pendulous grace, 

 have kissed the mother earth with such affection that some of 

 them have taken new root therein, and, growing aloft once 

 more, have added much to the mighty majesty of the parent 

 tree. Then we are charmed by a noble Scotch fir, on the 

 south side, which is about 1 5ft. in girth at 4ft. from the ground, 

 and a huge oak, with a girth of I4ft. and an umbrageous spread 

 of 86ft. A silver fir, too, I2oft. in height and i6ft. in girth, 

 claims attention, and we notice many fine beeches and birches. 

 There are pollard limes of notable aspect, also, fringing the 

 offices at the approach to the house, and, withdrawn from gaze 

 at a distance from it, the mausoleum of John, Earl of 





WHERE THE MOAT WASHED THE WALLS. 



Country Li/f." 



the structure. But wherever you go at Blickling you find 

 variety. Much is due, undoubtedly, to the productiveness 

 of the region. The trees are abundant, varied, and of fine 

 growth, and the extensive park is traversed by venerable 

 avenues of oak and chestnut, possessing great distinction 

 of character. 



The sylvan scenery accordingly is very beautiful. There 

 an- nodding narcissi and daffodils shooting up through the 

 grass beneath the trees, and forming fragrant groups by the 

 margin of the lake, which is a sheet of water about a mile 

 in length, and 4coyds. wide at its broadest part, taking the 

 form of a crescent, sweeping round delightful parkland, and 

 margined by delicious foliage. There are splendid limes and 

 noble oaks, with great mas--e-> of rhododendrons, which flourish 

 in the kindly soil and hold a rich festival of (lowers in the early 

 summer. Some individual trees are of special interest. In 



Buckinghamshire, enclosed by dark- spruce firs and gloomy 

 sepulchral yews. But once again we turn, this time to the 

 fruit garden, to observe how abundantly the tress and bushes 

 are bearing their treasures of the golden time. Yet we 

 cannot exhaust the delights of historic and instructive 

 Stickling. 



Not only are the house, gardens, and park with its 

 lake, beautiful, but the stables and dairy are all that 

 could be wished. Here may be seen a special herd of 

 white polled cattle, short legged and straight backed, with 

 black mu//les, ears, and hoofs, representative of some of 

 the wild cattle of Britain in early times. The cows are far 

 from rivalling Jerseys as milk-givers, but they are not 

 maintained tor profit. They are a well-known feature in 

 the park, and add to the many interests of this picturesque 

 and attractive dwelling. 



