THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



MARCH, 1836. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Descriptive Notice of Castle Code, in the County of Ferma- 

 nagh, Ireland. By Y. 



Castle Coole, the demesne of the Earl of Belmore, is situated 

 within an English mile of Enniskillen, in the county of Fer- 

 managh. The house stands on a commanding eminence, about 

 half a mile from the entrance lodge. It is a noble mansion, and 

 was built by the late earl. We entered by the new approach 

 from the Dublin road, which is two miles long, and sweeps boldly 

 through the park, affording magnificent views of the surround- 

 ing country; and which has lately been completed under Lord 

 Belmore's own superintendence, since his retvu'n from Jamaica. 

 From the house, there are varied and extensive views : on the 

 left, about four miles distant, we have Florence Court, the beau- 

 tiful demesne of the Earl of Enniskillen ; in the foreground is 

 the broad winding lake, studded with woody islands ; and farther 

 beyond it are the mountain plantations of Florence Court; while, 

 to terminate the scene, the bold Benaughlin and the lofty Cul- 

 tagh Mountains rise. In front, there is a distant prospect of 

 Belmore Mountain rising in lofty grandeur; and, nearer, are the 

 Castle of Portera, and the picturesque town of Enniskillen, with 

 its numerous towers and steeples. On the left, two miles distant, 

 are the sombre plantations of the Temple Hills, broken into 

 irregular dense masses, and forming such mountain scenery as we 

 always consider the distinguishing feature of alpine regions. On 

 the lawn, in front of the mansion, are some magnificent old trees; 

 and, among others, an ash which measures ^5 ft. in height, and 

 23 ft. in girt; the tree has a fine straight bole, and its branches 

 extend over a space 270 ft. in circumference. There are, also, 

 a noble beech, which, at a distance, resembles a group, more 

 than a single tree, and which is 123 ft. high, and 13 ft. 10 in. in 

 girt, circumference of the top 885 ft, forming a beautiful, close, 

 regular column, crowning a fine clear bole, 25 ft. high ; a sweet 

 Vol. XII. — No. 72. k 



