SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 163 



trees, was laid out in 1631. That of Bilton, in Warwickshire, 

 with its fine holly and yew hedges, was begun in 1623. The 

 row of huge cut yews at Hutton John, in Cumberland, were 

 probably planted when the house was restored in 1662. 

 Bulwick, in Northamptonshire, with terraced slopes, pond, 

 and fine wrought-iron gates, was being laid out at the same 

 time, and finished in 1674. And at Mitford, in Northumber- 

 land, although the Manor House (dated 1637) itself is in ruins, 

 the old wall of the garden still encloses a tangle of roses, sweet 

 herbs, and old apple-trees, and a sundial, which for 250 years 

 has faithfully marked the hours as they fly. Instances such 

 as these could be found in every county in England. House- 

 hold accounts give a few glimpses into the management of 

 such gardens. In the interesting series at Hunstanton of the 

 Le Strange household books such items as the following occur : 



" 1628 Nov. 6, for a Bagg to Bring the fruit home in is. To a man for 

 tligging of flaggs for the Bowling ground 4s. For 65 foote of Oake Bord 

 for the gardin doores 7s. 



" 1629 Paid for dikinging and Hedging of Heacham orchyard, 2 men 

 for 7 dayes a peice 7d. in clearing the garden and digging of it I'is. 8d. 



" 1630, 6 wheel Barrowes £1, for a crest for the gardin house end at 

 28. 8d. £1. i8s., and for crest for the moate wall i6d. £i-z. 2s. 5d. and for 

 the gardin entry doorstall 3od. and for crest over that door. 



" Oct. 16, 1631 for a gardin spade 3s. 



'' 1632 To the gardiner for a quarter's wages wanting 2 weekes £2. 



" 1635 For 2 greatc gardin basketts 4s. 



" 1637 Pumpes and Pipes for the garden £2. 4s. To a gardener of 

 Creake for slips and seeds, 2s." 



What greatly adds to the interest of the Accounts of Hun- 

 stanton is that the part of the garden there referred to within 

 the moat has been but little altered since that date. The 

 bowling-green is still there, and a square plot of garden with 

 thick low hedges, in front of the house, is hardly changed. 

 The note-book of Henry Oxenden, of Barham, Kent, between 

 the years 1638 and 1668,^ contains many interesting gardening 

 entries : 



"^ Feb. II, 1635, set the hawksbill pares in the garden in Maydeken. 

 '\ 1635 planted the cherry garden at great Maydeken. 

 " Feb. 14, 1652 gave Mr. Barling 4 apple trees and a peare tree viz a 

 musk pare tree. ' 



^ The Genealogist, July and October, 1891, January, 1892. 



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