THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, November 18, 1856. 107 
four miles from Whitmore station, on. the Great North- 
Western Railway. Mr. Sneyd, the proprietor, who 
is unmarried, has spent many years in beautifying 
this line place; and although some of its features 
might possibly be after-thoughts, yet, as a whole, it 
carries a bold impress, and shows unmistakable signs 
| of that singleness of purpose which is of so much 
j importance both in landscape-gardening and garden 
! architecture. The original mansion has been recently 
pulled down—not a vestige left; and a new mansion is in 
course of erection on the same site. The old pile was 
Elizabethan, I believe, and the new one is to be of a 
similar style, or one closely approximating it, and, I 
understood, was contracted lor by the Messrs. Paton and 
Co., of Ayr, in Scotland. On approaching the lodge- 
gate from the Whitmore station, we meet with a very 
long and straight avenue, probably nearly a mile in 
length. This leads to a pile of stabling, which con¬ 
stitutes an excellent terminus; and the avenue, as 
descending by a regular though slight incline from the 
pile of stables to the lodge, the approach possesses much 
dignity. 
The general landscape in this part of Staffordshire is 
very interesting, and has more of the beautiful than the 
picturesque. The country is altogether a series of 
undulations, and the varying elevations running into 
each other with ease and freedom create much diversity 
in the outline. The whole is agreeably wooded, and the 
planting, originally carried out by Mr. Sneyd himself, 
was dictated by sound views as concerns the general 
scenery. I have seldom, in the course of my experience, 
beheld grounds so rich in planting; the noble evergreens 
alone, most of which appear to have been planted nearly 
a score years since, and are now in the height of their 
pride, being worth a journey of a hundred miles or more 
to inspect But Mr. Sneyd has most extensive wood or 
plantation-walks, quite of a labyrinthine character; for 
they traverse the woods in various directions, yet so 
judiciously managed, that seldom can a second walk be 
seen from that occupied by the perambulator. How 
different the effect of this from some places we may see, 
where the designers would appear to consider these 
breaks in scenery as matters of particular ornament in 
themselves. These wood walks at Keelo proceed to a 
very considerable distance, and are, for the most part, 
embosomed amongst groves of thriving Oak and other 
valuable timber-trees, the ground beneath being generally 
an excellent cover, and exceedingly rich in Holly, which, 
as an under growth, thrives here in a most admirable 
way. It is particularly interesting to the perambulator 
who has a relish for Nature’s beauties to traverse these 
diversified walks; at every step something fresh; new 
combinations by means of stolen views through tortuous 
glades or vistas, and finely-undulating ground, turn which 
way he will; the whole wooded almost to profusion with 
; healthy-looking timber. The park is very interesting; 
but I really would rather point to the rich plantations 
before alluded to. One thing I may name, and which is 
indispensable in all woodland scenery of importance. 
There is a most interesting lake of a winding character, 
which ever and anon greets the eyes of the spectator in 
proceeding along these beautiful wood-walks. Its extent 
i I did not learn; but it is no “ capability Brown ” affair— 
I it is all nature : no art can be discovered here, although, 
| I suppose, a work of art originally. Ever-varying 
; hanks with deep indentations, which astonish, when we 
consider the narrowness of the stream, and planting 
which here and there juts out, as if desirous of casting 
its deep shadows and delicate tracery in the stream 
beneath—these are its features. The only thing wo could 
desire would be a huge Weeping Willow occasionally, 
and a bouncing swan or two sailing on the surface of 
' this interesting piece of water. 
I will now turn to the home pleasure or ornamental 
ground, and, after pointing to its peculiar features, take 
a glance at the practical gardening of Mr. Hill, the 
head-gardener, the last possessing matters of high con¬ 
sideration. Here the very soundest practice in good 
English gardening may be seen. 
In the home ornamental ground is one of the most 
noble avenues of Chestnuts I have seen for some years; 
it is not simply the extent of the avenue, but the 
character and position of the trees, and the site they 
occupy, which are striking. I did not take their 
girths, for Mr. Hill, whose time I had already taxed 
a good deal, was exceedingly busy, and I was not 
willing to trespass much farther on his civilities. 
These Chestnuts are situated near a long and most 
dignified promenade, which overlooks the garden 
from some twenty to thirty feet in height, and is 
bounded by a parapet wall, which would be none the 
worse for a few architectural embellishments in the 
shape of massive vases here and there. Such might be 
made to hang down with Ivy, Cotoneasters, prostrate 
Junipers, and a score other things, if to be subservient 
to the style on the higher level ; or, taken as a fore¬ 
ground to the picture beneath, might be “ lighted up” 
with Scarlet Geraniums, Fuchsias, &c. There are two 
of the most venerable and majestic Scotch Firs in com¬ 
pany witli the Chestnuts that I have ever seen. 
Holly hedges here form one of the most important 
features. A hundred yards or more adorn the ground, 
about twelve feet in height, covered uniformly from the 
base to the apex with glossy foliage of the darkest hue; 
the whole a perfect pyramid, possessing a base of about 
five feet or more in width. Mr. Flill is a famous hedge 
manager, and whoever calls here may learn a useful 
lesson. 
The evergreens through the shrubberies and woods 
here are astonishiug both in number and character. 
Doubtless many hundreds might be counted of the 
most magnificent Hollies, Portugal Laurels, Yews, 
Hemlock Spruces, and hybrid Scarlet Rhododendrons, 
all from about nine to twelve feet in height, and as 
much in diameter. The Scarlet Rhododendrons are 
monstrous specimens; and it does appear profuse 
indeed, to see scores of such noble trees in the mere 
wilds. What they call Ilodgins’s Holly is here found 
in quantities. This tree possesses a magnificent character 
of foliage generally, the leaves being of enormous size as 
compared with our ordinary Hollies. This kind should 
he much encouraged by all lovers of noble-looking ever¬ 
greens. Many fine thriving Deodars are scattered about 
the grounds, and some of the freshest-coloured Arau¬ 
carias, about fifteen feet in height, I. have seen. There 
is a most singular-looking Ash-tree in the shrubberies; 
it possesses a bole of nearly forty feet in length, as 
straight as any gun-barrel. On placing the eye be¬ 
neath, and looking at it, the surface seems a perfectly 
straight line ; scarcely one deviation appears. 
I must now take a glance at the kitchen-garden, which 
is equally worthy of notice. The first important feature 
which takes the eye is the extent of mixed flower-borders; 
these accompany the visitor along most of the kitchen- 
garden lines. However much we may approve of and 
admire the parterre, the ribbon system, &c., there can be 
no doubtthatthe mixed border, when judiciously handled, 
will form an essential of good flower-gardening so long 
as a healthful taste remains. These borders atKeele are 
about four or five feet in width, and are, as Mr. Sneyd, 
1 understand, wishes them, brimful of flowers of all 
hues. But these are not so full, on account of the 
immense number of plants they contain. It is on the 
size and character of the individual specimens rather 
that Mr. Hill depends ; and this, beyond all question, is 
the true spirit in which to make the mixed border. Its 
peculiarity, as compared with a border thickly studded 
with little specimens, consists in its possessing a far 
