650 Notes on Gardens and Country Seats: — 



the principal front; which, however, is not shown to strangers. 

 We could only see the trees from the road ; though we were 

 shown the kitchen-garden by the present worthy gardener, 

 Mr. White. 



JLanglei) Park, R. Hcrvey, Esq., is a flat place of great 

 extent, with a number of fine old oaks and elms, a piece of 

 water, and an appendage to the park, called the Black Park ; 

 the latter being wild and picturesque. Fifty years ago, when 

 this place belonged to the Duke of Marlborough, it was kept 

 in high oi'der ; but at present it is comparatively neglected. 

 At that time there was a private road from the house to 

 Windsor, through the duke's property, and the park at Dit- 

 ton, near Datchet, belonging to Lord Montagu. In the kit- 

 chen-garden at Langley we observed some young fruit trees 

 planted on hills raised 3 ft. above the surface. Mr. Stephens, 

 the gardener, not being at home, we could not learn exactly 

 the object in view; but we have little doubt it was the same as 

 that of Mr. M'Donald, at the Dalkeith gardens, viz., to pre- 

 vent the roots from getting so soon down to the subsoil, which 

 always produces canker. The water in the park is good in 

 regard to form and extent ; but it wants a margin broken 

 with gravel or stones, to relieve the monotonous effect pro- 

 duced by its close contact with the green turf. Two raised 

 beds, bordered by basketwork, have been recently formed, 

 in imitation of those in the flower-garden at Windsor Castle. 



Ditton Park, Lord Montagu. — The surface is perfectly 

 flat, but it is varied with abundance of fine old elms. The 

 house, which is castellated, and was rebuilt, a few years ago, 

 by Mr. Atkinson, is surrounded by a moat. It has altogether 

 an excellent effect : and there are a very appropriate chapel, 

 gardener's house, and two lodges; all built or repaired by 

 Mr. Atkinson, who excels in castles and Gothic cottages; 

 and, to satisfy us, only requires to give a little more boldness 

 and freedom to his chimney tops, gable ends, and other pro- 

 minent parts in the sky outline. Many convenient and com- 

 fortable cottages and villas are entirely spoiled as picturesque 

 objects, for want of a continued attention to the " bold and 

 free" in the production of their outlines. The kitchen-garden 

 contains four acres, and was formed, about twenty-two years 

 ago, by the present gardener, Mr. Anderson, a pupil of Mr. 

 M'Donald of Dalkeith, who has been gardener here during 

 a period of twenty-seven years. The wall trees, he told vis, 

 did remarkably well for some few years after planting, till 

 their roots got down to the gravel, which lies 2 ft. below the 

 surface. The apricots on pear plum stocks gave way first ; 

 but those on muscle plum stocks remain good to this day. 



