536 General Results of a Gardening Tour : — 



At present, in many places, however disposed a farmer may 

 be to keep his lands clear, the dissemination of the roadside 

 thistles, by their downy seeds, renders it impossible for him 

 to do so. 



Planting was almost every where carrying on with great 

 activity in 1805, and the beneficial change which it has pro- 

 duced on the face of the country is generally conspicuous. 

 Immense tracts in the neighbourhood of Cheadle, then pro- 

 ducing only brown heath and peat, are now covered with 

 vigorous growing plantations of pines, larches, birches, oaks, 

 and other valuable trees. Great part of the waste land known 

 by the name of Delamere Forest is planted with oaks among 

 wild pines, as nurses, and both are thriving exceedingly ; the 

 pines being gradually cut in, or thinned out, to give room to 

 the oaks. As far as we saw this government plantation, it 

 appeared to be exceedingly well managed ; though we think 

 the idea of government growing its own naval timber, or any 

 part of it, quite unsuitable to the present age, and more cal- 

 culated to form a nucleus for government jobs, places, and 

 pensions, than to answer any useful purpose. But the most 

 surprising effects of plantations made within the last twenty- 

 six years, have been produced in the neighbourhood of the 

 lakes. We walked or rode through the lake district in 1805, 

 and, having not long before visited Loch Lomond, w^e were 

 struck with the nakedness of the Westmoreland and Cum- 

 berland hill sides ; we were not less so this season at their 

 clothed appearance, when we entered the Valley of Winder- 

 mere by NcAvby Bridge. This charming effect was continued 

 the whole of the way to Grasmere, and, though suspended 

 for a short distance, reappeared again at Keswick. Near 

 this town, when we first visited it in 1805, the sides of a 

 considerable mountain adjoining Skiddaw had just begun 

 to be enclosed, preparatory to planting. These sides are now 

 clothed with a magnificent mantle of plantation. A conical 

 hill, between Keswick and Penrith, is entirely planted from 

 the base to the summit, and will, in a few years, form a noble 

 ornament to the country for many miles round. The exten- 

 sive ridge of land on which Penrith Beacon stands, forming 

 a striking feature in the view from Bi'ougham Hall, &c., is 

 also planted over its whole surface ; and the Beacon now 

 appears like an ornamental building in the woods of a park. 



There is still a great deal to plant on the upper part of the 

 hills of Cumberland and Westmoreland; and the excellent 

 effect of what has been already done ought to encourage the 

 proprietors to proceed with confidence. Difficulties, we under- 

 stand, occur in many places, from the upper parts of the hills 



