and in its Neighbourhood. 345 



cause that would shut out the landscape; but they might be 

 planted with oak or ash to be cut as under-growth, with willows 

 to be cut for hoops or basketwork, or with furze to be cut as 

 fodder or as fuel for ovens or brick-kilns ; and with here and 

 there, say every 300 or 400 feet, a standard tree, to form a sort of 

 running foreground to the distant parts of the picture. As these 

 banks generally contain immense masses of good soil, whatever 

 was planted on them would grow vigorously, and perhaps soon 

 afford sufficient profit to pay the expense of planting and ma- 

 naging the banks of the steep cuttings, as well as the slopes of 

 the embankments. However, putting profit out of the question, 

 we think that, at all events, the deep cuttings ought to be planted 

 for the sake of ornament. 



The bridges which cross the railroad exhibit in some places 

 forms not to be met with on the Birmingham line, such as the 

 continuation of the main arch through the side arches, so as to 

 serve as abutments, and the lightening of the piers by open work. 

 This is beautifully exemplified in the grand viaduct over the 

 Ouse, the piers of which are in one part a hundred feet in height. 

 The sides of this splendid structure are, of course, not seen 

 from the railroad, though this object might be accomplished by 

 means of reflecting glasses, if it were thought desirable. The 

 length of this viaduct is 1437 ft., or rather more than a quarter 

 of a mile. It is justly considered a master-piece of engineering, 

 and affords one of the finest examples of elegant simplicity com- 

 bined with strength, that is any where to be met with. There 

 are many skew bridges on this line, and one or two formed of 

 single ribs 3 ft. apart, bridged over, apparently for the purpose 

 of showing how skew bridges may be dispensed with. The 

 station-houses are plain and neat, but without pretension to 

 ornament. On a Brighton line we think more beauty and variety 

 might have been displayed in them, but a due regard to economy 

 no doubt prevented this. 



The regulations at both extremities of the line, for safety and 

 saving trouble to passengers, are far superior to those on the 

 Birmingham line, or in any other with which we are acquainted. 



The last thing which we shall notice, as connected with the 

 railroad, is a young plantation of trees on the right hand just 

 before arriving at Brighton. It affords a capital example of 

 overpruning ; the trees, which are from 10 ft. to 20 ft. in height, 

 and both of needle-leaved and broad-leaved kinds, being de- 

 prived of their branches for two thirds of their height. 



The Street Gardens of Brighton, as we noticed in our volume 

 for 1838, p. 498., are in general very neatly kept, more espe- 

 cially those on the London Road, on both sides of St. Peter's 

 Church. These gardens are now (May 15th to June 3d) rich 

 in Brompton stocks and wallflowers, both of which thrive at 



