550 General Results of a Gardening Tour r — > 



numerous flower-beds to one natural order ; others to one 

 genus; and others to one colour of flower. The kitchen- 

 garden is well managed by Mr. Reynolds, one of the best 

 pine and grape growers in England ; and in the hot-houses 

 we found the best crop of grapes over pines which we have 

 seen since leaving London ; except those at Trentham and 

 Knowlsley, also over pines, and which were about as good, 

 but not better. In these three cases, and indeed in most 

 others where we have found excellent crops of grapes over 

 pines, the pines have been spurred in, and only one shoot 

 kept under each rafter. At Dunham Massey we found ex- 

 cellent crops of pines, and grapes over them; though here 

 the pines are chiefly fruited in pits. In the pleasure-ground,, 

 some of the edgings of the walks and beds approximate to 

 our idea of what they ought to be. The same may be said 

 as to the edgings at Hootton House. The kitchen-gardens 

 at Knowlsley Park have been reformed by Mr. Smith, and 

 most admirable crops of grapes, pines, and peaches, are now 

 in full perfection. Considering the state that these gardens 

 were in when we saw them in 1819, the greatest credit is due 

 to Mr. Smith. At Croxteth Park, the gardens have, in like 

 manner, been reformed by Mr. Balmer, jun., an intelligent, 

 strong-minded, reading young man. His object is late crops, 

 and, in them he has the greatest success. At Lathom House, 

 a considerable part of the edgings are as they ought to be; 

 and, considering that the family were in London when we 

 called, this place was kept in admirable order by Mr. Kidd^ 

 to whom we have strongly recommended the hot-water sys- 

 tem of heating, and curvilinear houses. The woods and 

 plantations here, we have already mentioned, are managed in 

 a superior style by Mr. Lawton. Ruffbrd Hall is a dull flat 

 place, but part of the edgings and other things, which will 

 be mentioned in the details of our tour, are to our taste. 



Leven's Hall has a curious old walled garden, part of 

 which is preserved in the style of James I., by whose gar- 

 d^xier it was laid out. We do not approve, however, of 

 introducing georginas and other modern plants in this 

 genuine specimen of garden antiquities. Mr. Forbes, the 

 gardener here, is the author of Short Hin/s on Ornamental 

 Gardeni7ig, which we shall elsewhere notice. At Storrs 

 Hall, the edgings in the flower-garden and in part of the 

 pleasure-ground are to our mind ; and the kitchen-garden is 

 excellently managed by Mr. Higham, a pupil of Mr. Forest's* 

 Brougham Hall has little to recommend it but the name^ 

 The situation on the brink of a bank Avhich had formerly 

 been washed by the river Eamont, near its junction with the 



