196 Country Seats in the North-Eastern Counties. 



apportioning the work, and doing every thing when it ought to 

 be done. Well do I recollect the expression he used to make 

 use of: that " a garden well kept was easily kept." It was his 

 practice to hoe quarters planted with vegetables soon after they 

 were put in the ground, which not only destroyed all seed-weeds 

 in their germinating state, but loosened the soil, and admitted 

 heat and air to penetrate to the roots of the plants ; thus acce- 

 lerating their growth. Many gardeners never think of applying 

 the hoe and rake to a piece of ground until it is completely 

 covered with weeds ; and, often, not before these have shed their 

 seed : if they would think of the old proverb, that " a stitch in 

 time saves nine," they would not be so dilatory. The length of 

 time it takes to clean a quarter overrun with weeds, and one 

 with the weeds scarcely making their appearance, must be 

 obvious to every one ; not taking into account the crop that will 

 soon make its appearance if the weeds have seeded. White 

 Hill is (for, I understand, the present proprietor is following the 

 example of his father) one of the best kept places in England : 

 for my part, I have seen none equal to it. In most places 

 in the north of England, assistants and garden labourers have 

 from four o'clock on the Saturday afternoon to themselves, as 

 an equivalent for the half hour they work over the ten hours 

 during the week : at White Hill the regulation was, to drop 

 work at five o'clock p. m. during the week, except on Saturdays, 

 when the labourers left off at three. This regulation, so bene- 

 ficial to the assistants, in place of increasing work, diminished it. 

 Mr. Crossling, who is one of the best of masters, and who is 

 universally respected, used to say, that men, if they employed 

 their time well, might do as much work in nine hours and a half 

 as in ten hours and a half, the usual period. There is one dis- 

 interested trait in his behaviour to his young men which I cannot 

 let pass unnoticed, particularly as it regards a practice in all places 

 of any magnitude in his neighbourhood : that is, never exacting 

 any premiums from them, notwithstanding their wages, privi- 

 leges, &c, are as good as any in their vicinity, and their oppor- 

 tunities of acquiring a knowledge of their profession a great deal 

 superior ; for never did a master pay more attention to instruct 

 men, provided their conduct is worthy of it, than he does. 



Lumley Castle, built in the reign of Edward I., is situated on 

 the brow of a hill, commanding views over a well-wooded valley 

 of the first description. The principal drive leads to the west 

 front ; the ascent to the great entrance-hall is by two divisions 

 of stairs, parallel with the building, forming a spacious resting- 

 place before entering. From this is seen the river Wear, 

 formed into a beautiful sheet of water by means of a dam. Half 

 a mile farther is the town of Chester le Street, with its ancient 

 church and lofty spire, the highest in the north of England. In 



