396 General Results of a Gardening Tour : — 



jets of the waterwoi'ks on the west front ; while the same tubes 

 which now supply the waterworks in the long canal would sup- 

 ply the high jets on the same front. If it were necessary, we 

 believe the river might be turned off at a sufficiently high point, 

 and led along the sides of the hills, so as to supply the highest 

 pond, and of course the hundred-feet cascade, abundantly. 

 After the united waters had supplied all the waterworks on the 

 west front, they might be led southwards in a tunnel, and de- 

 livered so far up the river, as tliat the quantity of water where 

 it passes the house would not be in the least degree diminished. 

 The avowed art being concentrated on the west front, we 

 would restore the other parts of the grounds, not to nature, 

 but to a more natural style than that which they now assume ; 

 retaining or forming a platform of an irregular boundary, and 

 on the same level as that now existing on the south front, on 

 the east and north fronts. But we are aware of the risk of 

 misconception which we incur by offering these hints without 

 the illustration of a sketch. 



The additional flower-gardens are in a highly enriched 

 architectural taste ; not being yet completed, it may be con- 

 sidered hardly fair to criticise them. Nevertheless, we must 

 protest against the use of gravel in the walks of these archi- 

 tectural gardens. Smooth pavement, as at Heaton Park, 

 ought unquestionably to be used, on the principle of uti- 

 lity or fitness; because pavement prevents the risk of the 

 feet taking up gravel, and carrying it into the apartments. 

 Such pavements would also suit much better with the stone 

 basket-work, as it is called, on the turf. We protest also 

 against the same edgings to flower-beds as are adopted in 

 common shrubberies, but we shall defer further objections and 

 suggestions till we have leisure thoroughly to explain them. 



The kitchen-garden here contains twelve acres, and, as the 

 foreman informed us, there are twenty-two men allowed for 

 keeping it in order. With regard to weeds, it was cleaned 

 down to the economic point; but the box-edgings were ragged ; 

 and, in one part, a long bed of ornamental plants was intro- 

 duced, and bordered by turf serrated on the edges, or, as 

 the ladies call it, vandyked. Nothing of this sort ought, in 

 our opinion, ever to be introduced in such a kitchen-garden 

 as that at Chatsworth ; we would as soon introduce a j^lot of 

 cabbages in the newly formed parterre at the house. What 

 properly belongs to a kitchen-garden ought to be carried to 

 the highest degree of excellence ; but any thing foreign to it 

 is in bad taste. With kitchen-gardens adjoining the mansion, 

 and used as a place to walk in, or where there is little or no 

 flower-garden, the case is different. W^here the head-gar- 



