WAY-SIDE HINTS. 127 



Britain are by no means so shaded as our own ; and 

 the most considerable piles of buildings, snch as Eaton 

 Hall, Blenheim, Dalkeith, and Burghley House, have 

 hardly a noticeable tree within stone's throw of their 

 walls. The flower patches, and coppices of shrubbery 

 approach more nearly, and to the garden fronts of 

 those magnificent homes you walk through walls of 

 blooming shrubs. But the full flow of the sunshine 

 upon the window is a thing courted. Allowing for 

 all difference in climate, I think there jnay be a ques- 

 tion if we do not err in this country by over-much 

 shading. A cottage in a wood is a pretty subject for 

 poetry, but it is apt to be uncomfortably damp. And 

 there are village streets with us so embowered that 

 scarce a ray of sunshine can play fairly upon the roofs 

 or fronts of the village houses, from June to October. 

 A summer's life under such screen cannot contribute 

 to the growth of roses in the cheeks any more than 

 to the growth of roses at the door. There is no pro- 

 vision against agues whether moral or physical 

 like a good flow of sunshine. 



In the establishment of new country houses with 

 us I often observe infinite pains bestowed upon the 

 elaboration of flower-patches, and banks of shrubbery 

 within enjoyable distance of the door, while in the 

 midst of them, or at such little remove as works the 

 same result, a great array of shade trees is planted 



