Longleat hill and valley landscape

The hills at Longleate have been boldly planted, and at the same period many fast growing trees were planted in the valleys; these latter were become, in many places, too tall for their situation. There are some lines, and planes, and lofty elms, near the water, in situations where maples, and crabs, and thorns, and alders, or even oaks and chestnuts, would have been far more appropriate: and there are some few tall shattered trees remaining, of the avenue near the house, which tend to depress its importance*. *[Since this report was delivered, almost all the objectionable trees have been removed by a spring blight, which destroyed so many planes in every part of England; and the place has been greatly improved in consequence.]