"The Balad of Ashwelthorpe, made in Sir Thomas Knivet's time," and reprinted in the Norfolk Tour, published in 1829, by John Stacy, Norwich. It runs thus:

In Morningthorpe parish is Boyland Hall, the residence of the Hon. RearAdmiral Irby, C.B., a seat which is justly esteemed for its curious and elegant arrangement. The hall is delightfully situated in a picturesque valley, about a mile from the village. Seldom do Nature and art conspire to produce such a happy picture. Near the church stands one of the finest plantations of oaks in the county. Of the rearing of these trees an accurate account will be found in the following interesting letter of the Rev. Thomas Howes, on the "Great Advantages of Planting Oaks," published in the Norfolk Chronicle of May 3rd, 1834.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORFOLK CHRONICLE.

MR. EDITOR,

Being enabled from old memorandums of undoubted authority, and from information received several years ago from different persons, who remembered or who assisted in the work, to give you, perhaps, an unusually accurate account of the produce of a piece of land measuring eight acres, planted with acorns in the year 1729, I take the liberty of so doing, and of requesting the insertion of it in your Paper whenever you may have the best opportunity.

The piece was under the plough at that time, cold and unprofitable, from the practice of underdraining not being then introduced; at Michaelmas, 1729, it was sown with wheat, and acorns dibbled in; when reaped, the stubble was left very long, which is supposed to have caused the plants to run up very straight.

From 1729 to 1763 plants were drawn out and sold to the amount of

£. 8.

From the year 1800 to 1810, by 307 trees

389 12

From 1811 to the year 1821, by 94 trees
From 1821 to the year 1833, by 36 trees

The underwood never came to perfection, but was stubbed up in the year 1767, and the feed of the ground let for 10s. an acre for thirty years

120 0

Value of the feed at the same price to the present time
There are now 320 trees standing, worth, if now felled

The expenses of felling cannot be now correctly ascertained, but the topwood is not included in the above account of receipts, nor a great many trees which have been used on the premises from the year 1763 to the present time, and at a moderate estimate must have much more than paid for the expenses of the labour.

I am your obedient Servant,

THOS. HOWES.

Morningthorpe, April 22nd, 1834.

In Tasburgh, by the road-side, is the garden of Mr. Betts, a very beautiful little spot, containing, amongst other trees, a magnificent English elm and a handsome weeping birch.

The town of Attleburgh contains no trees or gardens corresponding with its antiquity and important character in early times. According to some authors, it was for a series of years not only a city but the capital of all Norfolk; the seat of Offa and Edmund, successively kings of the East Angles, and the residence of numerous merchants. However this may be, it has little now to recommend itself to the antiquary, and, to our notice, still less. Even the tree, beside which the court of the superior manor was so long held, and which stood on a hill in the street, has been unceremoniously removed as an encumbrance! A line of venerable horse chestnuts still stands in the churchyard. Adjoining this spot are the grounds of the Rev. Dr. Barwick, containing some handsome ornamental shrubs and beech-trees. Here is also a yew hedge, apparently of considerable antiquity. In the garden of Christopher Spanton, Esq., solicitor, are several trees of the acacia, and a handsome specimen of the weeping ash. Numerous noble pines skirt the grounds of W. S. Cockell, Esq.: they are of considerable size, and evidently belong to the better section of P. sylvestris.

Deopham, says Blomefield, "was famous for a linden-tree of vast bigness; to the eye it overlooked all other trees thereabouts when viewed at a distance, as a giant among so many pigmies." This tree stood in the yard of Mr. Amias, and was taken down about 1705. Near to the place where it stood was a spring, which petrified sticks, leaves, &c. that fell into it. Sir Thos. Browne, of Norwich, gives the following description of it, as published by Evelyn in his Sylva, p. 82:–“ An extraordinary large and stately Tilia Linden, or limetree, there groweth at Deopham in Norfolk, whose measure is this: the compass in the least part of the trunk or body, about two yards from the ground, is at least eight yards and a half; about the root, nigh the earth, sixteen yards; and about half a yard above that, near twelve yards in circuit. The height, to the uppermost boughs, about thirty yards; which surmounts the famous Tilia of Zurich in Switzerland, and uncertain it is whether in any tilicetum or lime-walk abroad it be considerably exceeded. Yet was the first motive I had to view it not so much the largeness of the tree as the general opinion that no man could ever name it. I find it to be a Tilia fœmina, and if the distinction of Bauhinus be admitted, from the greater and lesser leaf, a Tilia Platuphylos, or Latifolia, some leaves being three inches broad; but to distinguish it from others in the country, I call it Tilia Colossæa Depehamensis." It is somewhat remarkable that this village still retains a tree of unusual size and stature of the elm species. It is called Deopham High Tree, and is considered to be the loftiest object of the sort in Norfolk. It stands rather upon an eminence, and may be distinguished at the distance of five or six miles in almost any direction.

Old Buckenham has an extensive circular green or park surrounded with trees, but none of them are of great interest.

Brooke, which to our ideas forms one of the most delightful villages in Norfolk, has an abundance of trees, especially of the walnut, birch, alder, and willow. One of the first mentioned, standing in a cottager's garden, is thirteen feet in circumference.

The market town of Loddon sits beautifully on the sides of an eminence [No. XV.]

3 A

near to a stream; but it is deficient in verdure. Nowhere is this more striking than in the spacious burying-ground around the large and handsome church with which this place is graced. There is a tree either in the churchyard or its confines, but it is a diminutive one. In the suburbs, is the beautifully decorated garden of Mr. Holmes, containing a piece of bold rockwork, and some considerable trees of the silver-edged holly. In the elegant grounds of Mrs. Palmer are many rare shrubs and trees: amongst the more remarkable is a Magnolia, fifteen feet in height. There is here also a large plant of the Ailantus glandulosa, or tree of Heaven. Besides containing these rarities, this retreat is worthy of being pointed out for the very neat manner in which it is kept up. Not far distant is the residence of Mrs. Cole: at the entrancegates are acacia-trees, and the plot of ground in front contains the choicest shrubs and flowers. A tree of that rare plant, the cut-leaved alder, stands in the garden of James Copeman, Esq. In the meadow behind the residence of Dr. Scrimshire, is a good specimen of the white willow. The soil generally around this place is wet and marshy, hence it is thickly studded in some districts with thriving trees of the poplar and willow. Three of the latter, which are pollards, stand by a pool of water at the entrance to the town.

Rockland has many gardens, but the most of the trees are of a young fruitbearing description.

Seldom do we meet with a village more full of cultivated scenes than Bramerton. The shrubs, though young, around the residence of Mr. Miller, are of the choicest character, and are so distributed as to produce a very pleasing effect. In the rear of this house stand some remarkable trees. On the other side of the way is the elegantly designed grounds of Mr. Rudd : the lawn is in high perfection here. On a yet more extensive scale is the newly laid-out seat of the Rev. Edmund Blake; this spot requires only the maturing of Time. Guarded by some ancient oaks and other trees, is the residence of John Blake, Esq.: here there are extensive gardens and a

greenhouse.

The garden of the Rev. Edward Day, Kirby Bedon, contains a magnificent acacia, and a very large service plant. A lofty silver fir, on the left of the gateway, is now suffering from the destructive grasp of the ivy.

The romantic village of Postwick is well furnished with shady trees, and has a few gardens tastefully kept. Here is the beautifully retired seat of the Rev. Joseph L'Oste: the house is almost hid amidst the depth of sylvan garniture, and the walks which encircle it are of the most pleasing description. The most aged trees here are of the elm, sycamore, and willow, some of the last being fine specimens. A few trees of the Lombardy poplar rise amidst the mass of verdure like pillars, contrasting admirably with the flattened outlines around them. On the brow of a high bank beside the church, is a pear-tree, eight feet and six inches in circumference, with a bold spreading top. The size of this tree is the more remarkable, when we consider that it rises in a bed of sandy soil. At a little distance is the seat of Mr. M. Palmer, already skirted by some thriving young plantations and shrubberies, and enjoying an elevated and commanding site. The surrounding grounds have been filled up with considerable judgment, and Time only can confer the park-like character which it wants.

Burlingham Hall, the seat of H. N. Burroughes, Esq., M. P., is a handsome mansion, situated in a flat well-wooded park of nearly one hundred acres.

The approach to this seat is too narrow, and the trees which skirt it, chiefly of the hazel tribe, are planted so close to each other as to shut out the view of the park on the right. This, we think, might be improved. The trees which are scattered throughout this place are in some instances of lofty and noble growth; and we might traverse "forests wide and old" without meeting with finer specimens than are here of the oak and chestnut tribes. There are several pollarded elms, too, which in a painter's estimation would be accounted of great price. We measured an oak, which stands on the righthand side of the road on approaching the hall, and found it to be fifteen feet in circumference at the base, its stem being about twenty feet in height. Of the sweet chestnuts growing in front of the hall, we found one with a trunk fourteen feet seven inches; another, thirteen feet eight inches; and a third, twelve feet, in circumference. Near to this spot, beside a pool of water, is an elm, which, at one foot from the ground, is twenty feet six inches in circumference: it is bereft of its top, and its trunk is quite hollow. The horticultural and floral departments of this seat are, as is well-known, surpassed not in this county.

Acle contains one tree, an elm, which the inhabitants seem to delight in: it stands in the centre of the town, protected with wooden rails.

In the village of Martham, a cork-tree (Quercus Suber), eighty years old, stands in the garden of Mr. Richard Forder.

Much that is curious and interesting may be seen in the grounds of Thomas Browne, Esq., Thrigby Hall; their chief features are the old yew fences with which they are intersected.

At the seat of John Ensor, Esq., Rollesby, are the following: an oak, about 300 years old, with a very large top, the trunk of which measures, at four feet from the ground, thirteen feet and six inches; an elm, at a similar height, is eight feet in circumference. Here there is also a clump of oaks of great age, each averaging about nine feet in circumference.

Somerton House, the property of Joseph Hume, Esq., is surrounded with beautiful gardens, lawn, and plantations, chiefly formed under the directions of the late J. B. Huntingdon, Esq —“In front of the house is a fanciful flower garden and shrubbery, protected on all sides from the ravages of the game by a concealed fence; beyond which is a very beautiful lawn sloping from the house, and then gently ascending, surrounded by thriving plantations of oak, chestnut, fir, and various other trees; having pleasant walks winding through them, planted on each side with roses, jasmines, and almost every species of fragrant and beautiful shrub. Beyond these walks are the very fine ruins of East Somerton church, partly enveloped in the umbrageous branches of ivy and other parasitical plants.”—Stacy's Norfolk Tour.

At Ormesby St. Michael, is the residence of Captain Glasspoole. We have not had an opportunity of seeing this place, but we are informed that the mansion contains a fine collection of Chinese curiosities, and that in the garden is an elegant assemblage of shrubs and flowers.

Clippesby House, the seat of H. Muskett, Esq., is a large handsome mansion, situated in an open park. The fine trees here are in the hedgerows, those that are scattered throughout the lawn being yet very young.

Situated in a valley about three miles south from Swaffham, between the Stoke and London roads, is Cley Hall, the seat of T. R. Buckworth, Esq. The park, which is entered from the former road, is very small, containing