450 Recollections of a Tour made in May, 1839, 



ably fine broad-leaved elms. They are of great age, with trunks from 12 ft. 

 to 15 ft. in circumference, from 70 ft. to 80 ft. in height, and still growing 

 vigorously. In the house are some excellent imitations of wainscot in plaster ; 

 and in the exterior, some Gothic work supposed to be old, but which we have 

 no doubt is comparatively modern. 



Swarkstone Loives ; Mr. Smith. — This gentleman, noted as a breeder of horses 

 and cattle, is also a great florist, and is reputed to have the best collection 

 of tulips in Derbyshire. He possesses a great many fine sorts, and excels in 

 several other kinds of florist's flowers and curious plants. He cultivates a 

 particular kind of cabbage, called the early Cornish, which has large white 

 ribs, somewhat like those of the Portugal cabbage, and which he considers 

 far superior in flavour to any other variety. He has obligingly promised us 

 to raise a quantity of seed, and send it to Mr. Charlwood for distribution. 

 Mr. Smith kindly gave us some of the cabbages, which we had cooked, and 

 found of excellent succulency and flavour. Among the shrubs in Mr. Smith's 

 collection, we found the new mahonias, Berberis empetrifolia dulcis, several 

 ribeses, and other choice species. 



Keddleston Hall; the Earl of Scarsdale. — This noble place is well known 

 for its superb mansion of classical architecture, its hall of lofty columns of 

 native marble, and its gigantic timber trees. There is very little about 

 Keddleston that we could wish to add to, or alter. We examined the lofty 

 silver firs in the pleasure-ground, varying from 100 ft. to 130 ft., or perhaps 

 150 ft., in height ; and the large oaks, and broad-leaved elms in the park. The 

 plantation on the hill behind the house, however, from not being thinned in 

 time, admits the light through the naked stems, and thus has a meagre, in- 

 stead of a massive effect. An attempt is making to plant out the stable offices, 

 which, if it succeed, will, in our opinion, injure the general appearance of the 

 house ; the dignity and effect of which they at present heighten by forming 

 a secondary mass. We found in the pleasure-grounds specimens of laurus- 

 tinus from 6 ft. to 8 ft. in height, and as much in diameter, and large arbutuses, 

 and common and Portugal laurels, which had been but slightly, if at all, in- 

 jured by the winter of 1837-8. 



Formarlc ; Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., M. P. — This is a very fine old place, 

 in a state of utter neglect, which a little expense would render a most delight- 

 ful residence. The house is well arranged, and contains a spacious suite of 

 apartments, entered from an outside stair which rises to the height of 10 or 

 12 ft. above the ground ; thus giving a most commanding effect to the views 

 from the windows, and admitting of all the offices being above ground. This 

 is an old arrangement, but it is a very good one in most situations ; and 

 decidedly the best on moist soils. In the kitchen-garden is a new range of 

 plant houses, the framework of which is of iron, and the heating effected by 

 hot water. In the park, in front of the house, is an oak tree upwards of 

 60 ft. high, with a trunk 18 in. in diameter, and the branches covering a space 

 of 50 ft. in diameter, which sprang from an acorn planted by the present 

 proprietor when an infant. We have seldom seen a place better adapted for 

 floricultural display on the lawn front, but nothing of the kind is attempted. 

 There are a number of mutilated aged oaks and elms near the house, mixed 

 with numerous old yews and large hollies; the oaks, we were told, were 

 mutilated by a steward from economical motives. 



Osmaston Hall, the Residence of S. Fox., Esq., is a large Italian house, and 

 the park contains some fine old ash trees, sycamores, broad-leaved elms, 

 English elms, and one or two Cornish elms of which we have been promised 

 portraits. Mr. Fox is curious in all that relates to horticulture, and, as a 

 magistrate, has been active in promoting many public improvements in 

 Derbyshire. 



Chatsworth ; His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. — Since we last saw this 

 place in 1831 (see Vol. VII. p. 395.), it has undergone many improve- 

 ments, and of these the most remarkable is the erection of a large tropical 

 conservatory. In general design it may be compared to a cathedral with a 



