it; the intention being to furnish the field sufficiently, and yet.

not to encumber it with planting.

From the nature of the site, the views from a little east of south to a little west of south-west are the only open ones that can be had; and it is needful partially to screen off the kitchengarden, and to fill the south corner of the field with planting, that straight lines and angles, which are out of harmony in a field, and diminish its apparent size, may be duly excluded.

The other clumps and specimens are inserted to create additional glades, to diminish the previous bareness, and to aid in composing a proper foreground.

There is an old Ash tree in the centre of the circle opposite the entrance-porch of the house, and an Oak on the lawn nearly opposite the walk from the garden door on the south-west side. Another old Oak tree occurs in the middle of the circular walk at the front of the kitchen-garden, and a similar one behind the curve in the wall at the back of the kitchen-garden. For all other explanations, the plan itself will probably suffice.

As exemplifying at once the mode of arranging a small park and an extensive and highly diversified shrubbery walk, fig. 162 is now added. It is the plan of Underscar, near Keswick, Cumberland, which contains about twenty-four acres, and is the property of William Oxley, Esq. It lies immediately at the base of Skiddaw, and in one of those great natural recesses of the mountain which often form a peculiarly sheltered and eligible site for a residence. Skiddaw itself rises precipitously to the north and north-east; and a large projecting arm (Latrigg) extends round the eastern side; while Dodd Fell, another arm of Skiddaw, stretches forward to the north-west. The place is therefore open only to the south-east, and from that to the westerly points, these points including a magnificent prospect of Derwentwater, with all its surrounding mountains, a peep of the Helvellyn range, Lowdore waterfall, Borrowdale, Scawfell Pike, the vale of Newlands, a small portion of Bassenthwaite Lake, and a very pleasing view of the town of Keswick, distant about a mile and a half. In addition to this, the woods and park-like fields around Ormathwaite Hall join on to the property just below it, the Hall itself being quite hidden by trees. chief slope of the land, too, is to the south-west, towards Derwentwater, which lies about two miles from the spot. And some idea of the commanding character of the site may be given from the fact that the rise in the ground from the south corner of the land to the position of the house is more than 150 feet.

The

Although no description can adequately represent the great variety of undulation in the surface of the land, it may be stated, generally, that besides the rapid descent to the south-west, there are three considerable depressions or valleys also running towards the same quarter, and the carriage-drive winds up one of these

Fig. 162.

far the most characteristic) of these hollows carries a beautiful little mountain-stream partly through the place and partly along its southern margin, all the lower portion, from the point where it touches the boundary, being overhung by a picturesque wood belonging to the adjoining property.

No situation could possibly furnish a more charming opportunity for making a shrubbery-walk, than the dingle by the

in such a way as to secure a moderate gradient, and to keep out of sight from the best windows of the house. Another (and by

sides of such a stream. Its natural beauty alone invests it with considerable attractions; and, with the aid which art can render, it may be made doubly interesting. In the present case, the pleasure-grounds proper are bounded by the stream, and a walk crosses it, and passes round the eastern side of the place through an elevated plantation, in which the Pine and Fir tribes are freely used, and where there are many rare specimens. It then traverses a piece of open pasture, and enters another enclosure, where there is a small orchard, from thence descending a steep wooded bank, by rustic steps, and studded with rocks and roots, till it rejoins another walk from the pleasure-grounds. It afterwards pursues a winding course down the valley, now approaching and following the stream, and now sweeping away from it around masses of plantation, and finally having exit from the place at the south corner, in the direction of Keswick. By the use of rocks, roots, and appropriate plants in many parts of the rugged banks, and by a profusion of Rhododendrons, Hollies, and other evergreens, a constant change of picturesque scene is attained, and the whole is materially aided by Ivy, Ferns, climbing Roses, Honeysuckles, and wild plants. There are three small rustic bridges over the stream, too, in the course of the walk, and a narrow branch (not shown on the plan) breaks away from the main walk where the latter diverges farthest from the hollow, and, straggling along the side of the water, in a deep dell, emerges again at a lower point. On the whole, although the plan can give but a very meagre notion of the perpetual play and liveliness of character in this part of the place, the shrubberywalk here may be regarded as expressing pretty nearly my beau ideal of what a walk of that description should be.

To return to the arrangement of the field, (into which, however, the plantations by the shrubbery-walk conspicuously enter, being only separated by a slender wire fence,) it will be perceived that the place is partly bounded, on two sides, by a public road; but, as Mr. Oxley's land extends beyond the road at several points, the planting is so contrived as to assist in uniting the outside fields with the principal enclosure, and the fences (which are hedges) will be kept low, in order still further to aid this object. The house, gardens, and homestead, are put at the upper portion of the land, that the latter may appear larger in the front or them, that a greater elevation, and consequently a

R

superior prospect may be obtained, that a back road to the house and offices may be conveniently made, and because this part of the place fortunately supplies the most available platform for all domestic purposes.

A plan of the gardens and grounds, showing the relative position of their various departments on a larger scale, will appear in another part. (See fig. 189.) The principal entrance is placed opposite the lower field, where it is well supported by some existing Oaks. From the comparative shortness of the drive, the extremely rural character of the district, and the fact that the road to Keswick is almost a private one, I have been happy to omit an entrance-lodge, which would have broken up the park-like appearance, and the seeming connexion with the adjoining property, from the house, and would have been quite incongruous. A plantation to the north of the entrance, however, serves to mask the outside road from the drive, and to shut out the narrow strip of opposite land which does not belong to the place.

The upper plantation in the northernmost field, which would appear, on the plan, to want placing at the extreme north corner, has its propriety and necessity, on the land, by being situated on a very elevated swell, the ground sloping away from it to the north with great rapidity, so that the northern boundary is quite out of sight. This plantation plays an important part in the general landscape also, as seen from a distance, there being nothing but bare pasture-land or fell behind it.

2. A flower-garden, if there be any, or flower-beds where there is no regular garden for low flowers, should be situated on the warmest and most private side of the house, and fronting the drawing-room windows. Or the flowers may be placed in a sheltered and sunny corner of the pleasure-grounds, where a wall at the back will keep them warm by protecting them and reflecting the sun's heat, as well as make them more secluded, and furnish the means of growing tender climbers.

The beds of a flower-garden should be symmetrical, and fit nicely into each other. All elaborate figures and scrolls are generally undesirable, as they tend to multiply work, and cannot be so effectively planted. Beds of simple shape, in which no very acute angles occur, will be the easiest to keep in order, and will exhibit a good arrangement of plants best. Flower-beds