There are upper and lower terraces; but the latter is not, in our opinion, sufficiently separated from the park by architectural parapets and other forms to justify the introduction of flowers on it. The fortification-like character is also, we think, too conspicuous in some parts, and the lines of slope and surface of glacis are, in others, disproportionately large for the height of the house. There is a flower-garden in a sunk panel, very judiciously designed and laid out; but it is planted with shrubs and other articles growing to the height of 3 or 4 feet, which prevent the shapes of the beds from being seen in a birds-eye view, so as to form a whole. Instead of this, the beds should have been planted with articles which do not rise above the height of 6 or 8 inches; or with roses having their shoots pegged down on green moss, so as not much to exceed that height. As an appendage to such a house, this garden ought to have been in much higher keeping: but perfect high keeping, in Devonshire, we have only seen at Luscombe and at Endsleigh. The terrace walks at Mamhead are not yet united with the pleasure-ground, which, indeed, remains to be formed; and a finer situation for forming a pleasure-ground walk very rarely occurs. We took the dimensions of two or three immense Lucombe oaks and cork trees, which we need not here repeat, because they are much the same as those given of the same trees in our Arboretum, as measured in 1837. The dimensions now taken were, for want of time, not made with sufficient accuracy to be useful in showing the increase of the trees since that period. The kitchen-garden is at a distance from the house, very unfavourably situated in a hollow; but, notwithstanding this, we have seldom seen walls more beautifully covered with fruit trees, especially with peaches and nectarines; the borders are not cropped. (To be continued.)
