^3_ 
VISITS TO REMARKABLE GARDENS. 
clean and sweet as new-mown hay. Plants of Cotoneaster, Berberis of various kinds, Mahonia, Garrya, 
Cistus, and Helianthemum abound, and occasionally rare Pinuses, of the dwarfer kinds, present them- 
selves side by side with Vaeciniums, Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Andromedas, hardy Heaths, &e., thus 
forming splendid groups, and presenting a regular succession of flowers. Californian annuals, half 
hardy plants, and Dahlias, are planted out in the summer time, so that in the autumn, as well as spring 
and early summer, the garden is rich in floral beauty. "We doubt, however, the propriety of planting 
Dahlias in this garden ; their foliage and habit are too coarse, and the flowers too gaudy for such 
a situation ; in fact, it is a place where one would not expect to find them, and hence is inappropriate. 
This garden is quite unlike anything we have before seen, but in localities where stones abound, a 
man of taste might readily form an equally interesting, though of course not so natural a garden. The 
idea, however, is worth copying, and might be turned to account in many situations, where a more 
polished style could not be introduced. Perhaps, however, the thing which strikes one the most forcibly 
at Redleaf is the strong contrast of the scenery, the constant stepping upon something unexpectedly, 
and being delighted at every turn. As we have before remarked, the mansion has a very plain appear- 
ance ; yet enter it, and at the very first step you are surrounded by some of the brightest creations of 
Landsccr, and other eminent artists ; proceed, and as you pass from room to room, and while you find the 
furniture and decorations of the most unpretending character, each apartment presents paintings and 
other articles of virtu, of the most valuable and recherche description : pass to the drawing-room win- 
dow, and the glorious view pourtrayed in the engraving presents itself, which is thus described by the 
I 
late Mr. Loudon: — "Entering the house from the bay of the drawing-room window, the visitor is 
struck with astonishment at the extent of the prospect, and at the fine reach of the river, beyond which, 
up the valley, he can see nearly to Godstone, where some trees, on the summit of a hill above that town, 
mark its situation. If, from the centre window he turns his head to look through the window on his 
right hand, he sees the whole range of the llcdlcaf rocks ; and if he turns to the left hand window, he 
sees another reach of river appearing beyond a wood. The surface of the water of the river is pro- 
bably two hundred feet below the level of the drawing-room floor, from which it is seen : the chain of 
causeway rocks one hundred feet, and the cottage and wood rather lower. The effect of the woodman's 
cottage, which may lie described as one of the aboriginal cottages of the country, is exceedingly good, 
as seen from the drawing-room, by the strong contrast which its humble appearance and the assoi -ia- 
tinus connected with it, afford to the richness and high art displayed in the house. In this extensive 
view no gentleman's house is to be seen, no church, and scarcely a farm house or cottage, SO completely 
arc almost all the objects of art concealed by the lu dgc-row trees." At Redleaf the refined taste of its 
late proprietor is apparent at every step, not only in the design of the garden, and the collection of 
trees and shrubs, but also in the appropriateness of the sites generally chosen lor planting them. We 
doubt not, however, but the present Mr. "Wells, assisted by his clever gardener, Mr. Cox, will still 
further improve it, by the removal of some of the trees and shrubs where thej are too thick, and by 
such other alterations as may tend to embellish the place. We cannot close these remarks without 
advising our gardening friends to visil Redleaf, nor without thanking Mr. Wells for his condescension 
in allowing us to make the sketches which illustrate this scries of articles. 
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