On several Gardens in England. 



Art. IV. Observations on several Gardens in England. By 

 Mr. William Sanders, Nurseryman, Bristol. 



- (^Continued from p. 17.) 



July 15. 1832. — Longleat, the very magnificent seat of 

 the Marquess of Bath, is situated a few miles south-west of 

 Warminster. The drive to Longleat from that city is of a 

 highly rural character ; and, on emerging from it, the eye is 

 enchanted by the view of a spacious plain, of gently undu- 

 lated surface, and immediately below stands the princely 

 mansion, on every side rich with picturesque scenery ; to 

 the right stretches a lucid sheet of water, backed by a fine 

 plantation ; and the beauty of the whole is greatly enhanced 

 by the wide extent of the domain, which bestows on it much 

 such a character as comports with our ideas of nobility. A 

 neat and well-kept flower-garden, laid out in the Italian style, 

 adjoins the mansion ; and in its centre, immediately fronting a 

 large orangery, stands a marble vase, nine feet in diameter, 

 which, if my information be correct, once adorned the 

 imperial city of Rome. At pleasure, a jet d'eau throws up 

 its refreshing showers, and imparts, in a summer's evening, 

 a delicious odour to the surrounding atmosphere. A short 

 distance to the west, and closely connected with the mansion, 

 stands a splendid pile of buildings, appropriated as stables 

 and offices, well assorting with the magnificence of the house 

 The kitchen-garden is removed, perhaps inconveniently, far 

 from the house ; but this is preferable, in my mind, to the 

 situation in which it is too frequently found. A rather 

 awkward site has been chosen for it, as it occupies the two 

 sides of a valley, running from north-east to south-west. It 

 is, however, well sheltered on all sides by fine woods. To 

 the south it is more thinly studded with trees ; good sub- 

 stantial walls enclose the whole ; but the wall trees appear to 

 have seen their best days. The soil is of a stiff nature, not 

 very congenial to the growth of early vegetables ; but, as a 

 compensation, it will withstand the summer's drought: The 

 hot-houses, which had become old and decayed, were, when I 

 saw them, being replaced by structures of a more elegant 

 and useful character, under the superintendence of the 

 gardener, Mr. Aeon. Behind the houses, an excellent row of 

 sheds was also in course of erection, well adapted for the 

 various purposes for which they are intended. The orderly 

 keeping which pervaded the many drives, reflects much 

 credit on the several individuals who superintend the estate. 

 On leaving Longleat, I made the best of my way towards 



