THEIR GENERAL ARRANGEMENT, &c. 



619 



dence. The parterre on the western side, 

 as we have already observed, is very dif- 

 ferent from that on the opposite front ; — 

 it is more elaborate in its details, and its 

 fountain is more richly carved. Descend- 

 ing from this compartment by nights of 

 stone steps placed in a turf-terrace bank, 

 we reach one terrace already laid out with 

 flower-beds, and afterwards another, now 

 in course of being finished. This latter is 

 separated from the park by a wire-fence, 

 which, commencing at the north-west 

 corner of the dressed grounds, passes, first 

 in a straight line, and afterwards in a cir- 

 cuitous manner, through the grounds, and 

 terminates again at the south-east corner 

 or end of the retaining-wall. On the 

 south or principal front, a very elegant 

 stone fountain— not, however, yet erected 

 —is to occupy the centre. The parterres 

 on each side are planted with scarlet 

 geraniums, verbenas, and similar showy 

 flower-garden plants, while those at the 

 two ends are laid out in sand. Beyond 

 the gravel-walk, which surrounds all the 

 parterres, and also intersects them, the 

 ground at the south side rises gradually, 

 and continues to do so for a great dis- 

 tance back — not, however, in one regular 

 slope, but in a graceful undulating man- 

 ner, and is at last lost in the woods and 

 plantations which surround it. The 

 whole of this enclosed ground is laid out 

 in the natural style, but without the sur- 

 face being in any part broken. Groups of 

 rhododendrons, and other flowering and 

 evergreen shrubs, are artfully disposed, 

 and feather down to the grassy sward. 

 Ornamental trees are profusely scattered 

 about, amongst w T hich are many rare 

 coniferse, which will in time give a new 

 character to the aspect of the place. The 

 three fountains to which we have referred 

 will be found figured in our article Foun- 

 tains, the drawings having been kindly 

 put at our disposal by the liberal and 

 excellent proprietor. They are from the 

 designs of M. Rous, and are cut out of 

 stone procured in the neighbourhood, and 

 executed by Mr Howie, we believe a 

 self-taught sculptor, now extensively em- 

 ployed in Edinburgh, and rapidly rising 

 to eminence in his profession. One thing 

 in connection with the fountains at Nut- 

 hill deserves notice ; — they are not mere 

 jets, but are abundantly supplied with 

 water at all times, and that under a high 



degree of pressure, being supplied from 

 an artificial lake more than 100 feet 

 above their own level, the supply-pipes 

 being 4 inches in diameter. This supply 

 also serves the mansion and offices ; and 

 ample provision is made, in case of fire, 

 that the whole stream may be brought to 

 bear upon the edifice. 



Objection may be made to our giving 

 Nuthill House and flower-garden as a 

 specimen of what such things should be, 

 on account of the garden not extending 

 over a greater amount of surface. We, 

 however, think that a moderately sized 

 garden well kept, as this one is, is much 

 preferable to a larger space kept in a less 

 masterly manner. Our chief object in 

 choosing this as an example is to show 

 the connection of the geometric flower- 

 garden with the mansion, and also its 

 capability of being united with the park 

 on the one hand, and the natural style 

 of dressed ground on the other, without 

 the slightest violation of good taste in 

 either case. 



The flower-garden at Drumlanrig Castle 

 may be given as another example, where 

 the geometrical style is carried out on the 

 three sides adjoining the baronial man- 

 sion, and extended to a great distance in 

 majestic terraces, in advance of the prin- 

 cipal front. The flower-garden here 

 covers an area of upwards of twenty-one 

 acres, the whole of which is seen from the 

 principal windows and spacious terraces 

 which surround the castle. About one 

 half of that space in laid out in the geo- 

 metric manner, each compartment being 

 different in design, and differently fur- 

 nished. Beyond this, upon a noble 

 grassy lawn, the gardenesque form begins; 

 and beyond that, the refined picturesque 

 is introduced, which unites the whole 

 wdth the surrounding scenery. 



Plate XXVI. exhibits the beautiful 

 Italian flower-garden of the Duke of 

 Devonshire at Chiswick. It may be 

 interesting to notice that the idea which 

 led to the erection of the original villa 

 and Italian gardens at Chiswick was 

 borrowed from a w r ell-known villa of 

 Palladio's. It was then considered as a 

 model of taste, although not entirely 

 without faults — some of which, Mr Wal- 

 pole observes, were occasioned by a too 

 strict adherence to rules and symmetry ; 

 and Lord Hervey sarcastically remarks 



