336 Notes on Coimtry Seats and Gardeiis. 



and numerous other suitable objects ; and, in appropriate places, 

 there will be canals, basins, and fountains, summer-houses, shrubs 

 clipped into artificial forms, &c. The upper terrace will be 

 150 ft. higher than the house, and will form a winding plateau, 

 extending along the ridge of the hill on which the house 

 stands, and commanding, on one side, a very rich view 

 over a fine agricultural and wooded district, and, on the other, 

 the mountains of Derbyshire, forty miles distant. The two 

 extremities of the terrace-gardens will gradually be united to 

 broad walks on the same levels as the terraces, in extensive 

 woods already existing. After these walks have been continued 

 to a certain length on the same level as the terraces, the upper 

 one will gradually descend, and the lower one gradually rise, till, 

 at a considerable distance from the house, they will form, by 

 gentle inclined planes, communications with evei'y level of walk 

 or terrace. At least, the situation admits of this kind of ar- 

 rangement, as well as of several others. 



One thing is however certain, that Mr. Gregory will create 

 what may be called an atmosphere of highly artificial garden 

 scenery in the geometric style, round and overhanging the man- 

 sion ; and that he will gradually unite it, not with modern shrub- 

 bery walks, but with the picturesque woods already existing, 

 harmonising these woods with the artificial scenery by the intro- 

 duction of foreign plants. For ornamenting the geometric gar- 

 den, Mr. Gregory possesses an ample stock of vases, statues, 

 and other sculptural ornaments, and of rich gates, and other 

 iron work, collected by him on all parts of the Continent, soon 

 after the peace of 1815. 



In the natural woods at Harlaxton, Mr. Gregory has intro- 

 duced masses of rhododendrons, holly, periwinkle, tutsan, laurel, 

 and other evergreen shrubs ; and a great many sorts of herba- 

 ceous plants, including bulbs and Californian annuals. One in- 

 teresting circumstance we cannot avoid mentioning, which is, that 

 when Mr. Gregory was travelling in the Caucasus, and also in 

 the Crimea, he saw the Heva.c\eum giganteum, and thinking it 

 a very suitable plant for the Harlaxton woods, and not knowing 

 that it was already introduced into England, he had a young 

 plant taken up, planted in a box, and sent from Constantinople to 

 England. This plant has left a numerous progeny, which are 

 now luxuriating in a favourite spot called the Cimetiere, in the 

 woods at Harlaxton. 



The terrace gardens at Harlaxton, though only commenced, 

 already afford some valuable hints to the landscape-gardener. 

 Among these is the good effect of having terraced platforms 

 above the eye, as well as under it. The flights of steps which 

 lead to those above the eye form an invitation to ascend, which 

 the visiter is most anxious to accept, since he cannot be aware of 



