Gatley Carrs. 71 



yards further walk by a runnel of water, we have the 

 Carrs straight before us. The term "Carr" is of Gothic 

 derivation, and denotes an expanse of level land, near a 

 river, covered with alders or other water-loving trees. 

 Such is the character of the scene here. An extensive 

 and verdant plain, smooth and level as a bowling-green, 

 stretches from our feet away to some undiscoverable 

 boundary, its further portion covered with tall poplars, 

 entirely bare of branches for half their height, and leafy 

 only towards their summit, the trunks standing just near 

 enough together to form a grove of pillared foliage, and 

 just far enough apart for every tree to be seen in its 

 integrity, and for the sunshine to penetrate and illuminate 

 every nook. They are not the kind of poplar commonly 

 understood by the name the slender, spire-like tree, 

 which is quite exceptional even among poplars but one 

 of the species with ample and spreading crowns. The 

 number of trees is immense at a rough guess, perhaps a 

 thousand. They were planted by the late Mr. Worthing- 

 ton, of Sharston Hall ; the timber, though almost useless 

 to the joiner, being well adapted for cutting into the thin, 

 narrow strips called " swords," upon which it is customary 

 to fold silks. The path commanding this beautiful view 

 runs along the upper margin of the plain. It is some- 

 what elevated above the grass, and keeps company with 

 a stream, the opposite bank of which rises still higher, 

 and is covered with oaks and ferns. The superiority of 

 position thus afforded, though trifling, gives to the plain 

 the aspect of a vast amphitheatre, and so calm and 



