Highclere. 249 



mentioned upon its longest side. Before his improvements were 

 commenced, Lord Caernarvon called in the assistance of the 

 celebrated Brown, whose plan is still preserved in the mansion 

 at Highclere, though it was not followed. It serves to show the 

 great superiority which a proprietor of cultivated taste, who resides 

 upon his demesne, and makes himself master of its capabilities, 

 will always possess over the professional landscape-gardener, 

 taking a transient view, and forming his plan upon undigested 

 data and imperfect knowledge of local details. Lord Caernar- 

 von began his operations by partially destroying the avenue 

 leading to Sidon Hill, throwing down its boundary hedges, and 

 laying down the arable fields in grass on its right and left ; thus 

 including Sidon Hill within the park, and extending the latter up 

 to the foot of Beacon Hill, now apparently, though not actually, 

 within it. Then, turning his attention northwards, the park 

 was carried over all the fields and rabbit warren between the 

 mansion-house and Milford Water ; which last, having its three 

 subdivisions formed into one lake, was, with its adjoining woods, 

 thrown also into the enclosed grounds. Very extensive plant- 

 ations stretching from the natural beech wood, along the eastern 

 side of the park, and forming a rich woodland boundary, next 

 occupied Lord Caernarvon's attention. After this, his planting 

 operations upon a large scale were carried to the northwards : 

 Dunsmere Water, in short, a multitude of operations, followed ; 

 every successive year producing some extension or developement 

 of his original plans, which were not only pursued with un- 

 abated activity during his own life, but were continued by his 

 son, the late Earl of Caernarvon, with equal ardour. A curious 

 memorandum book was kept by the first Earl of Caernarvon 

 [which has been shown to us]. It records many interesting facts 

 connected with his improvements, chronicles the planting and 

 progress of his favourite trees, gives the dates of his successive 

 operations, and must be regarded as a document of great local 

 interest. The mode of preparing and removing large trees 

 described by Sir Henry Steuart, was largely practised by Lord 

 Caernarvon, sixty years ago. Many of the beech trees, now of 

 large dimensions, in Sidon Vale, to the right and left of the old 

 avenue, were so removed soon after 1770. In 1795 and 1796, 

 many large beech trees were transplanted to the north of the 

 house; again, in 1798 and 1799, others were transplanted; 

 again, in 1800; and to various spots, and at various intervals, 

 between these periods and since. These attempts were almost 

 invariably successful. To show how thoroughly Lord Caernarvon 

 had appreciated the principles of this practice, we copy an extract 

 from his memorandum book, written at least forty years ago : — 

 " ' The best way of planting large beech trees of any size is, to 

 cut in the lateral branches, not close to the body, in the begin- 



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