MR HAY'S JOURNAL IN HAMPSHIRE 559 



is still going on. The walks or drives through the woods 

 are already extensive, and are decorated on both sides with 

 the finest evergreens, such as rhododendron, azalea, kalniia, 

 Portugal laurel, laurel-bay, laurustinus, and arbutus. The 

 quantity of plants of this kind, not only near the house, but 

 on the sides of the walks leading through the woods, is very 

 great ; and the effect of these, interspersed through the plan- 

 tations, is extremely beautiful, particularly in walking from 

 the mansion-house to a neat small house with a tower in the 

 centre, from which there is a fine distant view of New Forest. 

 This is the residence of the butler, a very deserving person, 

 and who evidently possesses considerable taste. After leaving 

 the lawn, and entering the woods, the rhododendrons, arbu- 

 tus, laurustinus, in full flower, with laurel-bay and Portugal 

 laurel, form a most beautiful contrast with the dwarfish up- 

 right furze (Ulex nanus), and heath-bushes, which are here 

 very common native plants. 



At one extremity of the wood, and not far from the above 

 mentioned tower, a small spot has been selected by the but- 

 ler, on which, by his own industry, he has displayed, that his 

 taste in gardening is as correct as his master's in planting, 

 He has chosen a hollow piece of ground, which was once used 

 for the manufacture of bricks; in the middle of this, he has 

 formed a small pond, with a piece of rock-work in the centre, 

 and from the top of the rock-work, a fountain throws the 

 water in several directions, and to a considerable height. A 

 curious petrified oak-root is placed at one end of the pond : 

 the root is branched, and the whole seems to have been en- 

 crusted with a thin covering of flint. Opposite to the centre 

 of the pond, there is a curve in the face of the bank, with 

 water trinkling down a piece of artificial rock ; and on the top 

 of the bank, a grotto has been formed with shells, pebbles, 

 petrifactions, &c. The plants cultivated in this small and 

 sheltered spot, are very fine ; and immediately on ascending 

 the bank on the other side, the heath and furze again appear, 

 producing an agreeable contrast. The ride or wide walk ter- 

 minates at present at the butler's house, from which it is now 

 extending in new plantations. The hedge-fences on this pro- 

 perty are particularly well kept. 



Mr Heathcote takes much pleasure in building on different 

 parts of his grounds, neat and comfortable cottages for his 



