in Somersetshire, Devonshire, and Part of Cornwall. 491 



siderable extent of walks laid along the bank, so as to display 

 it and the distant scenery to advantage. The views across the 

 river Exe from the house are pleasing, and disclose meadows 

 bounded by banks more gradually sloping than those on the 

 Cowley side, varied by woods, cottages, and some villas. From 

 the walks in the lower part of the grounds two stone bridges are 

 seen, which, amid so much vegetation, have an excellent effect. 



This place has been judiciously laid out and planted by 

 Mr. Pince, who has exhibited a new feature in the conser- 

 vatory, viz. that of covering the central bed of soil, in which 

 the camellias, oranges, &c, are planted, with flag-stones sup- 

 ported on cross-walls or props, so as to leave a stratum of air 

 between the flag-stones and the soil. The trees, the stems of 

 which pass through holes in the stones, thrive as well as if the 

 surface of the soil had been exposed to the light and air in the 

 usual manner. This conservatory has the front sashes down to 

 the floor, and sliding past one another; and the roof is formed 

 of stout sash-bars, without conspicuous rafters, but with one or 

 two large sashes for letting down to admit air. It is separated 

 from the dining-room by a lobby, also glazed in the roof and 

 in front, so that none of the air of the conservatory can ever 

 enter the house. The gardener here, Mr. Griffin, has dis- 

 tinguished himself by gaining prizes at exhibitions, both in 

 Devonshire and in the metropolis. He grows heaths ad- 

 mirably, mixing with the rough sandy peat abundance of frag- 

 ments of stone throughout the whole mass, half the surface 

 consisting of these stones protruding through the soil. This 

 is carrying the practice of introducing fragments of stone in pot 

 culture a step further than Mr. M'Nab has done. 



There is a flower-garden with the beds on gravel edged with 

 box; the forms without acute angles, so as to admit of covering 

 them with plants. There is a small pinetum, in which there are 

 some specimens of the rarer kinds ; and a good collection of 

 showy peat-earth shrubs. The edges of the walks are kept low, 

 so that the flowing lines of the lawn are never interrupted : and 

 the whole place was in excellent order. 



Sept. 8. — Mamhead ; Sir Robert Newman, Bart. This is an 

 extensive place, with the house situated on the projecting 

 swell of an elevated ridge crowned with wood. The views 

 from the house, over a rich valley, are extensive and magnificent, 

 commanding Exeter, the river, and the hilly country beyond. 

 The approach is of considerable length, and appears judiciously 

 conducted ; but, as we were in a close carriage, we were not able 

 to form a decided judgement on this point. This we can say, 

 that, immediately within the entrance, we passed through a grove 

 of Scotch firs of twenty or thirty years' growth, with the stems 

 naked, or showing only dead branches to a great height, of no 



