294 Hatfield House. 



large, has scarcely any hot-houses, and very few pits or frames. 

 One wonders how a duke could live without peaches and grapes, 

 not to say pine-apples, forced strawberries, and kidneybeans ; 

 but, doubtless, these articles are procured from London. [A most 

 complete kitchen-garden, and ample ranges of forcing-houses, 

 pits, and frames, have been since formed and erected ; and the 

 most complete success has attended their management. SeeHorius 

 WobiirnensiSi by Mr. Forbes, in which engravings are given of 

 the garden and garden structures, and various other objects.] 



The pleasure-ground is a large roundish area behind the 

 Abbey. There are a few fine old specimens in it of oaks, pines, 

 firs, and cedars, but very few rare trees or shrubs. Since the 

 accession of the present duke, it has been very greatly improved 

 in one small spot near the house. Some beautiful flower-gardens 

 have been formed from the designs of Repton, and the sugges- 

 tions of the present duchess ; but the principal features are the 

 exotic and hardy heatheries, formed under the particular direc- 

 tion of the duke. Plans and a description of these have been 

 printed, and distributed by His Grace, accompanied by an enume- 

 ration of the heaths they contain, by Mr. George Sinclair. A 

 willow-ground is in contemplation, which will be a great addition 

 to the interest of the scenery. [This has been since accom- 

 plished, and the Salictum Wohu7'nense printed.] We must not 

 forget the grass-garden, the most complete thing of the kind 

 which has ever been formed in any country ; and which, from the 

 exertions of Sir Humphry Davy, and the patient and assiduous 

 labour of Mr. Sinclaii", and the publication of them to the world 

 in the Hortus Gramineus Wobumensis, it may confidently be pre- 

 dicted, will, in time, bring to a very high degree of perfection that 

 part of agriculture which consists in the culture of forage grasses. 



Oct. 17. Woburn to Hatfield. — Hatfield House, the residence 

 of the Marquess of Salisbury, is in the Elizabethan style, and de- 

 servedly celebrated. The park is extensive, but not remarkably 

 interesting ; and the gardens afford little to gratify the amateur. 

 There is an antique flower-garden, with walks arched over with 

 clipped lime trees, which is separated from the house by a terrace- 

 walk of turf. Beyond this garden is another, also devoted to 

 flowers, and containing a range of hot-houses, for the culture of 

 pine-apples and grapes. The kitchen-garden is in a different 

 and distinct part of the grounds. The whole is very well kept; 

 but there are no rare plants, either hardy or exotic ; and there 

 is but little evidence of such a love of gardening in the pro- 

 prietor, as would be sufficient to stimulate and encourage his 

 gardener. [The collection of plants here, we understand, has 

 since been considerably increased. The park, according to the 

 Return Paper sent us, contains a number of magnificent trees, 

 especially oaks.] 



