THE ROSE GARDENS OF HERTFORDSHIRE. 69 



noticed the Single Ayrshire trailing over and around a 

 large oak, whose trunk it completely encircled and 

 enlivened with its foliage and blossoms, and this was 

 no mean feature in the scene. Here we paused for a 

 moment to admire fine specimens of the Paulovnia 

 imperialis and Bignonia catalpa, when our ears were 

 greeted by the murmuring of a distant waterfall. And 

 agreeable indeed it was. Nay, more ; sweeter far just 

 then than the sounds of the sweetest music, calling up in 

 imagination all that seemed required to amplify and 

 complete the harmony of the scene associating the fresh- 

 ness of the streamlet with the fragrance of the flowers. 

 We turned our steps thitherward, for it was not far, and 

 found it to proceed from a neighbouring brook, by the side 

 of which was a rustic seat covered with ivy, honeysuckles, 

 and Evergreen Roses. It was neither costly nor grand, 

 but it was natural, and fancy applied to it Spenser's 

 description of 



" an arbour green dispread, 



Framed of wanton ivy flowering fair, 

 Through which the fragrant eglantine did spread 

 His prickling arms entrailed with Roses red, 

 Which dainty odours round about them threw." 



This was indeed a delightful spot ; but we dared not 

 linger. A few steps more and we found ourselves in the 

 Rose garden. The soil, although naturally loamy, was 

 thought not sufficiently good, and the beds were originally 

 filled with prepared soil. In the centre of the garden is a 

 Rose temple. The ground on which it stands consists of 

 four beds of equal size, segments of a circle, the soil being 

 raised to form a mound about four feet high. Twelve 

 Gothic arches, the standards of which are of iron, seven 

 feet three inches high and six feet three inches apart, 

 describe the outside of the circle. From these rise several 

 rods which meet at the top, and are united to a rod rising 

 from the centre to form a dome. Two walks pass trans- 



