113 



whole extent of it as a fine lawn of pleasure ground, 

 with the circuitous offsets of planting almost meet- 

 ing each side across the vale ; also a part or parts se- 

 parate from each other may be laid down, say con- 

 verted into flower gardens, turning the whole valley 

 into pleasure grounds and planting. This would add 

 an immense value to the estate of Balgone, and the 

 whole plan can be executed at a very little expense, 

 comparatively speaking, nature herself having with a 

 masterly hand sketched out the enchanting and su- 

 perbly grand, yet truly romantic scenery, which, 

 when finished by art, as pleasure grounds and walks 

 about this place, it will be surpassed by none, and 

 equaUed by few in the country. 



No. XXVIIL 



Round Stable Padock, at Powerscourf. 



In this field there is a magnificent ash tree, which 

 is not only well worthy the attention and care of the 

 proprietor, but is also worthy the admiration of stran- 

 gers visiting Powerscourt. I suppose it the largest 

 tree of the kind in Ireland ; at all events it is the 

 largest I have heard of, and it is the fourth largest 

 tree of ash I have ever seen either in Scotland or 

 England ; it is still healthy and growing, and I have 

 no doubt but it may increase in size for a number of 

 years. This grand natural production girths, at the 

 smallest part of the bole, twenty-one feet, and 

 a little higher and lower thirty feet ; though the 

 the main trunk be but short, it sends up two magni- 

 ficent and truly beautiful stems ; measured close to 

 where they spring from the main trunk, each will 



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