12 THE FLORIST, AND 



tirely unobserved, is the tame sheet of water of 1831, now a magi- 

 cal lake interspersed with islands, peninsulas, promontory^ and 

 steeps of the most verdant grass — artificial rockwork, pallisades and 

 geological formations, all having been brought many miles to 

 adorn this secluded spot, to which you are gently drawn by the mu- 

 sical whisperings of a secluded waterfall. In your search you cast 

 your eye on the vista of Spondon, the church with its towering spire 

 three miles across the lake, forms the termination of this picturesque 

 view ; at your feet is a beautiful boat with its golden oars, in which 

 we paddled from island to island, viewing and comparing the growth 

 of trees, the formation of artificial rocks, and the design of the plan- 

 ter, where the towering Douglas and Norway firs were flanked 

 by our hemlock spruce, which makes an agreeable tree for rocky 

 and water scenes, its delicate foliage and drooping branches kissing 

 the ripple of the silver lake, adding new charms to the scene, in be- 

 holding one of our most common trees luxuriating in those fairy 

 isles with native splendour. Those trees were not planted on low 

 mud islands, but on high artificial hills, nearly every foot of which 

 had cost a shilling to the spirited owner, whose great delight was to 

 employ the poor to raise the objects of his fancy. His sole pleasure 

 was planning, planting and replanting — cost was rarely estimated, 

 the question was, can it be done ? On the margins and inlets of this 

 romantic sheet of water great effect was produced by the shades of 

 foliage, the Austrian, Comcan and Norway pines gave dark shades, 

 the Silver, JBhotan and Sabin give light shades ; the Khutrow, cem- 

 brian and insignis giving the green shades, with an occasional yew 

 whose history went back into other centuries, gave a tone of ancient 

 and modern grandeur that must be seen to be fully realized. 



On the south of the lake and very near the mansion, is formed a 

 grotto and fountain, where all the gems of dwarf trees, lava and 

 rocks are collected and rather systematically arranged, which appears 

 to have been the prevailing taste of his lordship. How wonderful 

 are the productions of the vegetable kingdom ! and they can only be 

 compared in collections thus brought together. We have been ad- 

 miring the rapid growth of many of the firs and pines, frequently 

 exceedingly five feet in one season. What are we now to say of 

 those miniature, less than Tom Thumb affairs, of those clanbrasil, 



