Another good feature in the grounds of Wardour Castle is the American garden, which contains some good old specimens, especially of arbor vitï¾µ, red cedar, tulip trees, and white spruce, and a hemlock spruce 40 ft. high, the trunk of which is 3 ft. across at the surface of the ground. There are some very large rhododendrons and azaleas, and some of the newer varieties of them, and of other American trees and shrubs, are being added from time to time. The shrubbery walk, which leads to the American ground, contains some fine specimens of platanus, Turkey evergreens, and Luccombe oaks, cedars, Portugal laurels, &c.; and here, and in a part of the American ground, a number of species of pines and firs are introduced. They are numbered with cast-iron numbers, which we regret, because, by putting the names to them at length, they would be read by the hundreds of persons who come every year to see this place; and thus a knowledge and taste for such trees might be spread throughout the country. There is nothing that we dislike more about a gentleman's seat, than to see the same forms of hothouses, and the same modes of numbering plants adopted, which are common in nurseries, excepting always the kitchen-garden, in which they are appropriate. The kitchen-garden here is divided into compartments by beautiful grass walks, as gravel is scarce and dear. The approaches to this place, both from the London and Bath road, and the road from Hindon, are remarkably good, and their commencement is indicated by very picturesque and substantial Gothic cottages, said to be built from designs by the present lord, who, with his lady, are much attached to gardening improvements. The family being at present in Rome, the place is not kept up as it is when they are at home. On our way to Salisbury we were repeatedly reminded not only of the necessity of guide posts, but that they should be formed of solid letters, with open intervals. So violent was the storm, and so dark the night, that we could hardly see the road; and, taking the wrong turn at Wilton, we went round by Old Sarum; thus taking a very dangerous road, and one which was more than five miles round. The tree at Old Sarum, under which the elections used to be made, was blown down the same night.
