Cuffnels, Sir Edward Poore, Bart. - Nature has done much for this place, in the variation of the ground, and in the distribution of some fine indigenous oak and beech trees, the remains of the forest. The house is well placed, and there is a magnificent conservatory attached to it, but with rather too opaque a roof, so that the trees planted in it, though they are tall, have not that vivid green, and strong healthy appearance, which they would have if the roof were entirely of glass. Neither do they flower freely, for the same reason. The appearance round the house is unsatisfactory, for want of a terrace in front, and a lawn and pleasure-ground; in short, for a want of that appearance of art, and high finish, which ought always to accompany such n mansion. For these appendages there is every natural facility, and we know of few places that would be so much improved by their addition. There is a naked shadeless walk which leads to a small flower-garden, a rosary, and the kitchen-garden. The flower-garden is surrounded by a low brick wall, on which are some fine Cape and Australian shrubs, which stand the winter without the slightest protection [some of these have been already noticed, p. 208.]. We noted down Acacia lophantha and armata; Plumbago, two specimens; Viburnum rugosum, several camellias, Escallonia montevidensis and rubra, Maurandya, Alstr£meria, Hedychium, Agapanthus, Mesembryanthemum, &c. &c. In the boundary hedge of the rosary were large myrtles, and a Callistemon lanceolatus, 15ft. high, which had been out ten years. Near the conservatory was a Rhododendron ponticum, 15 ft. high, the branches of which covered a space 39 yards in circumference; and, in a shubbery at the back of the kitchen-garden, were two or three fine specimens of liquidambar, deciduous cypress, catalpa, and large planes. The effect of the yellow green foliage of the latter in these grounds, and also at Paultons and other places, is very striking as contrasted with the dark green of the magnificent oaks and hollies, which are so abundant in both places. This, and several circumstances of the kind, may afford important hints to landscape-gardeners in the distribution of trees.
