240 Notices of some Gardens and Country Seats 



5 ft. in diameter ; Taxodium disticlium 50 ft. high, with a 

 trunk 2 J ft. in diameter; jPlatanus orientalis 60 ft. high, with 

 a head 70 ft. in diameter ; ^'hras glutinosa incisa 70 ft. high, 

 with a regular conical head ; »S'alix Russellmwa 80 ft. high, 

 with a trunk 5 ft. in diameter ; a tulip tree 70 ft high, with a 

 trunk 4 ft. in diameter ; a very large Lucombe oak ; and nu- 

 merous elms from 80 to 100 ft. high. There are, besides, cedars, 

 silver firs, spruces, Scotch pines, hollies, and various other trees 

 of large size, of which we had not time to take notes. In re- 

 turning to Exeter, we observed in a cottage garden Phlomis 

 fruticosa 8 ft. high, Avith a stem 4 in. in diameter, wliich ripens 

 seeds in abundance. Throughout the South of Devonshire the 

 Phlomis becomes a large and very ornamental shrub. 



Sept. 24. — Killerton Park ; Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart., 

 M. P. This place is situated on the side of a hill, which slopes 

 gradually and beautifully down to a level country or broad 

 valley on one side of the house, and on the other rises to a 

 summit crowned with wood. Nothing can be more judiciously 

 disposed than the trees on the lower part of the slope, and in 

 the level valley. Immediately in front of the entrance to the 

 house the surface contains very few trees, but at a short dis- 

 tance these commence, at first thinly scattered and sparingly 

 grouped, and then increased in number till the groups unite 

 into masses, and the masses are lost in one grand valley of 

 wood. The surface of this wood is fully commanded by the 

 eye from the house, and forms a grand and effective contrast to 

 the rest of the place. As a contrast to this wood in front of 

 the house, which is looked down upon, we have another behind 

 and at each side to which we look up. Turning to the plea- 

 sure-ground side of the house, we have smooth glades between 

 masses of rhododendrons and other finely tufted shrubs, which 

 lead the eye up the trunks of the trees which form the venera- 

 ble wood crowning the hill on the side of which the house 

 stands. This hill to the right and left of the house affords 

 many fine walks, commanding extensive prospects. Some of 

 these walks, particularly the one leading to the chapel, are 

 nearly level in regard to surface, but, as they follow the wind- 

 ings of the slope, they are exceedingly varied in regard to 

 direction ; and this, in our opinion, constitutes one of the finest 

 descriptions of walk that can any where be made. There is 

 much to admire at Killerton, both of natural feature and arti- 

 ficial treatment, for Sir Thomas Dyke Acland has an excellent 

 taste in landscape-gardening. There are many fine old trees, 

 the dimensions of which will be found in our Arboretum, in- 

 cluding a remarkably large tulip tree close to the house : in 1834 

 it was 63 ft. high, with a thick trunk, and a very wide spreading 

 head; and the trunk, Ave were informed, has since increased 



