having been thrown down, and the ground formed and laid out, agreeably to the modern ftyle of ornament; and in a manner which would have done the artist credit, had the house been modern; but, to the remains of the old Priory, terraces and grafs plots were the best accompaniments,

PRELIMINARY REMARKS,

WITH these data, there was only one line of procedure. The character of the foreground, as well as of the diftances, was beauty; and all that art could do, with effect, was to bring the middle grounds into unifon with them: to break the groves and fkreens, infuch manner, as to leave well formed maffes of wood, with vistas and graffy glades between them; fhewing, with the best effect, the beautiful undulations of ground, with which the site abounds; but which were almoft wholly fhut out from the house.

THIS has in part been done; not more with the view of difclofing the beauties of the place, than to ventilate it, and thereby endeavour to counteract the exceffive moiftnefs of its climature : an extent of orchard ground, fpreading over the valley below the houfe, with fome fences which disfigure

disfigure one of the boldeft fwells, ftill mar the principal views; and while the prefent purpose of the place remains, it might be wrong to remove them ornament and utility fhould ever go hand in hand, and be ready to accommodate and affift each other, as the exifting circumftances of the place require,

ON the fubject of RURAL ORNAMENT, we find very few MINUTES at this place: our attention being principally bent towards the fubjects of RURAL ECONOMY; particularly towards the improvement of the noble, we had almost said magnificent FARM, which, at prefent, may be faid to conftitute the place itfelf. Indeed, the ornamental improvements being chiefly confined to the dividing of continuous fcreens, and an alteration in the line of approach, the fubjects of memorandum were few.

NEVERTHELESS, the difficulties of opening picturable † viftas, through lines of tall grown wood, are ever too great, and their impreffions too ftrong on the mind, to pafs away wholly without notice. MINUTE

• Some account of this Farm will appear in the RURAL ECONOMY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND; now nearly ready for the prefs.

PICTURABLE,-grateful to the eye, in nature, and capable of being reprefented, with good effect, in a picture.

MINUTE THE TWENTYTHIRD.

THE practical ideas that grew out of the experience which this place afforded, turn chiefly on the proper season for this operation; and on the extreme caution and continued ftudy requifite to the due performance of it. Endeavouring, before the work is fet about, to gain a general idea of the effect of each opening, from every point of view which will command it, is the groundwork of fuccefs. This may be done, at any season; but there are only two, in which the operation itself can be profecuted with full advantage. This is either in autumn, while the leaves are changing their colours, or in the fpring, during the progress of foliation. The latter is the most proper season for the structure, as well as the outline, of each tree may then be diftinctly feen. During fome days, accordingly as the progrefs of vegetation is flow or rapid, fcarcely any two trees, even of the fame fpecies, are exactly of the fame colour: while one retains its wintry hue, another is forming coloured buds, a third is in fuller bud, a fourth bursting, a fifth in pallid leaf, a fixth of a deeper tint, &c. &c. fo that, at this critical juncture, the branches of adjoining trees may, in general, be

feen

feen diftinctly, how intimately foever they may be mixed with each other: of course, the outline of either may be seen, before the other be removed.

MINUTE THE TWENTYFOURTH.

OTHER ideas, which it was thought right to memorize, relate to TUFTS OF HEDGEWOOD, left ftanding on cutting tall-grown Hedges; to break the meagre monotonous lines of farm fences; in which, as is common in this diftrict, no hedgerow timber appears.

THE fapling fhoots from the ftools, or old roots, of the Afb run up tall, and take better outlines than thofe of the Oak; which, on the high hedge mounds of Devonshire, generally fpread too wide, and take an outline too rotund and fquat: the fapling groups of the Chefnut, the Wild Cherry, and the Mountain Sorb, alfo take defirable outlines; efpecially when Blackthorn, or other flow-growing fhrubs, happen to stand on their margins. With a little attention to the freeing of the bafes of thefe fapling tufts, while rifing, their forms would be more natural, and their effect more pleasing.

THE

THE forms and fizes of thefe hedge tufts should be as various as the circumstances which give rife to them. Tufts, of every dimenfion, feathering to the bank; taller groups, rifing with naked ftems; and even single stems, if fuitably furnished; may afford variety and richness to the fcenery, as well as that shade and fhelter, which a newly fallen hedge, hacked down from end to end, is rendered incapable of furnishing.

MINUTE THE TWENTYFIFTH.

A NARROW VISTA, if the outlines are tolerable, fhould be free. A fingle tree, be it ever fo beau tiful, left standing in such a vista, has a bad effect; as frittering down, and dividing, that which ought to be a whole.

NOR can the eye bear a SINGLE TREE, of an ordinary form, near a well outlined mass of wood.

THESE are truths which experience taught at this place. The views, in both cafes, were improved, by removing the single trees *.

MINUTE

* Nevertheless, when the outline of a group, or of a large mafs of wood, is ragged and unfightly, a well featured Tree, flanding near its margin, may, by engaging the eye, be advantageous. See MIN. 31.