392 Ge7ieral Results of a Gardening Tour : — 



which is amply supphed from an adjoining pond. Behind, 

 above, and beyond the range of conservatories, is a lake, 

 and, beyond the lake, another conservatory with curious wings 

 and statues; below the main range of conservatories are a 

 paved terrace walk with a Grecian temple at one end, and 

 a second terrace containing a second range of conservato- 

 ries. The remainder of the valley, to the bottom and on the 

 opposite side, displays such a labyrinth of terraces, curious 

 architectural walls, trellis-work arbours, vases, statues, stairs^ 

 pavements, gravel and grass walks, ornamental buildings, 

 bridges, porticoes, temples, pagodas, gates, iron railings, par- 

 terres, jets, ponds, streams, seats, fountains, caves, flower 

 baskets, waterfalls, rocks, cottages, trees, shrubs, beds of 

 flowers, ivied walls, rock-work, shell-work, root-work, moss 

 houses, old trunks of trees, entire dead trees, &c., that it is 

 utterly impossible for words to give any idea of the effect.* 

 There is one stair of 100 steps; a cottage for a blind harper, 

 as large as a farm house ; an imitation cottage roof, formed by 

 sticking dormar windows, accompanied by patches of hea^h to 

 imitate thatch, and two chimneys, on a large mass of solid rock, 

 which, seen at a distance, on a steep bank embosomed in wood, 

 bore naturally some resemblance to the sloping roof of a 

 cottage grey with lichens. As the sandstone rock protrudes 

 from the sides of the valley in immense masses, abundance of 

 use has been made of it to form caves, caverns, and covered 

 seats ; it has even been carved into figures, and we have Indian 

 temples excavated in it, covered with hieroglyphics, and in 

 one place a projecting rock is formed into a huge serpent, 

 with a spear-shaped iron tongue and glass eyes. There is a 

 rustic prospect tower over an Indian temple, cut out of solid 

 rock on the highest point of the north bank ; and, in the 

 lowest partoftTie valley, there are the foundation and two stories 

 (executed before the death of the late earl) of an octagon 

 pagoda, which is to be 100 ft. high, and to spout water from 

 the mouths of 100 dragons. This pagoda, the Gothic temple, 

 the range of gilt conservatories, and the imitation of Stone- 

 henge, of all which we have been furnished with elevations, 

 form the leading artificial features of the valley. The valley 

 itself is upwards of a mile in length ; it gradually widens from 

 its commencement at the stone bridge with the pond above it, 

 till it terminates by opening into a very wide valley, containing 



* Through the kindness of the present earl, and the obhging disposition 

 of his artist and clerk of the works, Mr. Fradgley, we have received a 

 general plan of this valley and the grounds for upwards of a mile in diameter, 

 M'ith plans and elevations of many of the principal objects. Mr.Fradgley has 

 also engaged to take several sketches for us from points of view which we 

 pointed out, all of which will appear, with the details of our tour, in a 

 future Number. 



