148 State of Gardening in Irelayid. 



would be glad to know upon what principles of taste this 

 elegant and, in some respects, useful tree, has been expelled 

 the wood, the forest, the grove, and the lawn ? To us its total 

 banishment seems irreconcilable with any just conceptions of 

 beauty or of right feeling. 



Gormanston, the seat of the Viscount of that name, is not 

 far from this, but in the adjoining county, Meath. The ap- 

 pearance of the large baronial house, with its surrounding 

 plantations, are certainly calculated to raise the expectations 

 of the horticultural tourist unaccustomed to traverse the places 

 of former days in this county. In this, as in most of the no- 

 blemen's demesnes in Meath, he will find himself somewhat 

 disappointed. Suffice it to say, that the grounds are here 

 well kept; the boundaries of the demesne have been lately 

 greatly extended, and considerable additions made to the 

 plantations: the gai'dens are extensive; and there is the best 

 modern shrubbery we have met with north of the metropolis. 

 Near the family-chapel there is an old parterre, laid out, as 

 we were informed, by a French clergyman, in the topiary 

 style, which, notwithstanding its formality, struck us, as at 

 least an admissible innovation on the more natural designs 

 now so generally practised. There are here some beautiiul 

 trees of the red and white cedar. 



Townly-Hall, the property of B. Balfour, Esq. within three 

 miles of the town of Drogheda, is one of the most interesting 

 places we met with on our northern tour. It is situated near 

 the Boyne, directly over the obelisk commemorative of the 

 battle named after that river. Mr. Balfour is a gentleman of 

 great practical experience in rural matters, and personally 

 directs the principal improvements on his extensive estates. 

 He is the most spirited planter in this part of the country, 

 excepting Lord Oriel. A fine wooded glen runs through the 

 demesne, on the eastern bank of which the principal approach 

 to the house has been judiciously carried. The extensive 

 young plantations are suffering much by want of thinning and 

 pruning ; a circumstance to be regretted in a place of this 

 magnitude, and where business is carried on with such spirit. 

 We will venture to suggest to Mr. B. the propriety of con- 

 sulting a professional man in these matters, or of employing 

 an experienced forester to manage his woods, so far as regards 

 the matters referred to. Townly-Hall bids fair to be one of 

 the most magnificent demesnes in the kingdom ; and every 

 lover of rural ornament must regret any circumstance, how- 

 ever contingent, that would tend to mar the prospects of one 

 of the most spirited planters we now can boast of. The gar- 



