NORMAN TOWER GARDEN 21 



and proceeds to enumerate some of the trees and shrubs which 

 were 



" So close set 

 That no one though he were near walking by 

 Might there within scarce anyone espy," 



for 



" So thick the branches and the leafage green 

 Beshaded all the alleys that there were," 



• •••••• 



" And midst of every herbere might be seen 

 The sharp and green sweet-scented Juniper 

 Growing so fair with branches here and there 

 That, as it seemed to anyone without. 

 The branches spread the herbere all about." 



" And on the slender green-leaved branches sat 

 The little joyous nightingale, and sang 

 So loud and clear " — 



from all of which it is reasonable to infer that vegetation 

 had grown so much as almost to form a thicket ; and judging 

 from the reference to a " herbere," the garden was, even in 

 those days, a pleasant retreat. There are junipers still growing 

 in the garden, but alas ! the nightingales have fled. 



The garden lies on the steep slope at the base of the 

 Round Tower, and the soil (if soil it can be termed) is chiefly 

 chalk-rubble, which was probably thrown down the sides of 

 an existing mound by workmen when they were getting out 

 trenches for the foundations of the building. The bottom of 

 the slope has been more or less filled up at some time or 

 other ; a fairly conclusive proof of which is the fact that 

 while making the bog garden a gravel path was discovered 

 quite two feet below the present level of the ground. The 

 garden runs in a circular form, from N.E. to about S.E., or 

 nearly three parts of the circumference of the Round Tower, 

 and being shaped as it is, and lying on such a steep slope, 

 exposed to sun and wind, it naturally drains quickly, and 

 becomes very hot and dry during the summer months, thus 

 necessitating frequent and copious waterings to keep many of 

 the plants in good health. 



