THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



SEPTEMBER, 1834. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Notes on Gardens and Country Seats, visited, from July 27 

 to September 16., during a Tour through Part of Middlesex, Berk- 

 shire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Hamp- 

 shire, Sussex, and Kent. By the Conductor. 



(Continued from p. 259.) 



Tottenham Park, Marquess of Aylesbury, — Aug. 16. This 

 is an immense place, of which we had heard much ; and while, 

 in its immensity and in the general management of the estate, 

 it exceeded our expectations, in its architecture and gardening, 

 which we had heard most praised, it fell short of them. The 

 estate consists of 60,000 acres in a ring fence, one half of which, 

 we suppose, may consist of the ancient forest of Savernake, said to 

 be the largest in Britain in the possession of a private individual, 

 with the house in the centre. Fifteen years ago, the stewardship 

 of this estate fell into the hands of Mr. Iveson, who has effected 

 the most extraordinary improvements and ameliorations, seconded 

 by the marquess, who is one of the best of landlords and masters. 

 When Mr. Iveson came into charge of the property, none of 

 the cottages on the estate had gardens attached to them, and the 

 labourers were in the most wretched condition of any in this 

 part of England. They are still bad enough, in more than one 

 sense of the word ; their wages being made up out of the poor's 

 rate (a system which the magistrates of the county, we were 

 informed, have not the courage to break through) : but, in con- 

 sequence of every cottage, without exception, having had a 

 quarter of an acre of land attached to it, the dwelling itself 

 having been put in repair, and, when necessary, enlarged so as 

 to consist of four rooms with lean-tos, &c, they are in a state 

 of great comparative comfort and happiness. Mr. Burns, the 

 well-known, and, we may say, celebrated gardener, at Totten- 

 ham Park, propagates 300 apple trees yearly, to distribute 

 among them ; and supplies them with cuttings and seeds of 

 Vol. X. — No. 54. gg 



