small flower-plot, which annexes the pleasure-grounds to the kitchen-garden, and becomes an appropriate introduction to the flower-walk which runs up its centre. Light arches, canopied with climbers, are suggested at 59, to give still greater propriety to the entrance upon this walk. The slope of the garden is a very gentle one to the south, and the object in placing the glass erections at the north end was that they would there be on higher ground, and have a better exposure to the sun, and look more imposing from the entrance to the garden, and be more conveniently connected with the garden-sheds, &c., and with the working-pits and the farm-yard. This site determined on, and the desire being that some of the houses should be kept for plants, and that all should be made enjoyable, it became a matter of almost necessity to treat the central walk as an ornamental one, in order to render the hothouses pleasantly accessible from the mansion and the pleasure-grounds. To provide an agreeable accessory, likewise, and to afford views of a hilly and wooded country to the west, as well as to communicate suitably with a wood-walk on the higher and more northern margin of the property, the shrubberywalk along the western side of the kitchen-garden has been appended, and is made straight in so far as it follows parallel lines in the fences, curving round a circular mass of shrubs at either end, before it begins to depart from the regular line. With this preliminary explanation, I shall now advert to the figures of reference, the purport of which is as under : 43. Rhododendron Cunninghamii. 44. Cryptomeria Lobbii. 45. Golden Yew. 46. Berberis Fortunii. 47. Pinus insignis. 52. Cupressus macrocarpa. 54. Waterer's dwarf golden Holly. 56. Beds of choice Rhododendrons, with 57: Yew hedges, about 5 ft. high. 59. Arches of wood or wire, to be covered with climbing Roses. With a desire to render this place conspicuously attractive, Mr. Noble has spared no expense in planting the shrubberywalk and other parts of the grounds, or in erecting the hothouses. The former are now rendered worthy of note, in comparison with their size, for many beautiful and costly specimens. And the latter I would especially request attention to, on account of their being so very complete and comprehensive. Indeed, there are comparatively few places which will either require or admit of a greater number of glass structures. And it will be found that these and their appurtenances have been carefully studied, and their form and position, with regard to both use and effect, very deliberately chosen. Rather more than three quarters of an acre, exclusive of the ornamental parts, is occupied by the kitchen-garden just described. That now to be spoken of, and which forms part of the grounds at Norley Hall, near Northwich, Cheshire, the seat of Samuel Woodhouse, Esq., contains about half an acre, but has two separate outside portions, which together nearly compose another quarter of an acre. The figure (215) includes some of the pleasure-gardens likewise. In this figure, the house is at 1, the house offices at 2, some of the minor offices at 3, the house-court at 4, the stables and their accompaniments (5) round the stable-court, 6, the farm-yard at 7, the farm-buildings at 8, a rick-yard at 9, and a drying-ground at 10. There is a road to the stable-lofts, &c., at 15, to avoid entering the stablecourt with hay and straw. At 11, is a small scattered parterre, having some of the beds filled with low evergreen shrubs, and 12 is an oblong rosery. There is a border for climbers (13) round the wall of the house-yard. An old Sycamore tree, with a seat round its stem, is at 14, and the walk encircles it. There is a back-road, for cattle, from the farm-yard to the park, just beyond this point. All this section of the grounds was laid out in 1855, and the plan for the remaining half was prepared and executed in 1856. It is this latter department which comprehends the kitchen garden. A walk continues from the pleasure-grounds across the cattle-road, and, travelling round a circular mass of evergreens, of which there is a corresponding mass at the other end, passes along the front of the kitchen-garden, giving access to it in its centre. Pleasant views of the park are obtained from this walk, and there are some large irregular borders between it and the plantation of shrubs which surrounds the kitchen-garden, and similar borders by the sides of walks leading to the two reserve gardens. The taller kinds of herbaceous plants, with Dahlias, Hollyhocks, &c., are intended to be cultivated in these borders. The kitchen-garden (17) is on two levels, the southern division being about two feet higher than the other. The first is enclosed by a Holly hedge, (30,) like the reserve gardens, and there is a bank, covered with Cotoneaster, (18,) between the two parts. The northern half is surrounded, except on the south, by a fruit wall, the corners of which are rounded off, as shown, to adapt them better to the contracted space behind. The small area to the east of the kitchen-garden (19) is for herbs, and for growing a reserve of flowers to supply the flower-borders in the pleasure-grounds. The corresponding area on the other side (20) is for forcing-pits and frames, and for such plants as Rhubarb, Sea-kale, and similar things, that require largely manuring, and create litter. There is a border for Vines and Peach-trees, (21,) in front of two Vineries (22) and a Peach |