limb was wrenched off, much to the regret of the older inhabitants of the village, who had known it from their infancy. On examining this tree, we were sorry to observe that decay is taking place in its trunk, on account of the rain having lodged at the top of the stem, which is becoming hollow. In order to preserve it from the further ravages of the weather, it is to be forthwith covered with lead, or some other substitute; and we trust that, thus protected, it will flourish at least for a century to come. Such a tree, in such a situation, close by the house of God, is very rarely met with, and forms, in conjunction with the building beside it, a picture of a very delightful character.

The chestnut, generally, is considered to be one of the most magnificent of European trees, attaining a greater height than the oak, and equalling it almost in every other respect. It is a long-liver, producing, if cut before it is old, a most valuable and durable timber. It is said that the roofings of some of the oldest buildings in Britain, such as Westminster Abbey and the Parliament House in Edinburgh, are of this description of timber; but, by others, it is maintained that oak of unusual grain has been mistaken for it in those cases. It is certain, however, that this tree once abounded in the neighbourhood of London; for, in a history of the metropolis, written by Fitzstephen, in the time of Henry the Second, reference is made to a noble forest of this tree, which stood somewhere in the vicinity of Stoke Newington; and we believe there are still some old remains of this species in the woods and parks around London.

It is a tree well worthy of cultivation, both on account of its beauty and worth. The leaves are large, of a bright green, continuing late in the season, less liable to be attacked by insects than those of other trees, and affording a goodly shade throughout the summer. In short, we cannot do better than refer those who wish to see it in its favourable appearances to the specimens at Hevingham, a locality which contains this species in great perfection. The Rev. E. R. Beevor has planted several young trees of the same kind around his residence, which are in a flourishing

condition; and we wish we could revive amongst our landowners generally, something of that spirit for propagating this tree which so distinguished our forefathers. Though it will never take the place of the oak in ship-building, it is equal, at least, to the ash and elm for house-carpentry and furniture; and, what is of more moment to us, it is a better-looking tree in the park or pleasure-ground.

On the right-hand side of the road before entering the town of Aylsham, is the seat of the Rev. Mr. Bulwer, a place which exhibits many marks of a refined taste; and which is indebted so far for its beauty to the trees that are grouped around it. There are some lofty specimens of the English elm (Ulmus campestris) skirting this place, which have a fine effect, towering above the buildings of the town. One of these trees is about seventy-five feet high, the trunk measuring eleven feet three inches in circumference. But the most distinguished object in the garden, and which may be termed, in every respect, a very elegant tree, is a Spanish chestnut (Castanea vesca), seven feet two inches in circumference, adorned on all sides with beautiful regular spray hanging to the ground. The nut, from which this tree sprung, was planted, we believe, by the late Mr. Bulwer thirty-eight years ago, so that its growth has been prodigious. The Scotch pines here (Pinus sylvestris), though not large trees, have become very picturesque, and in the course of time we may expect that they will yet display something more of the peculiar grandeur belonging to the species. One of them has a trunk of five feet and a half in circumference.

We were particularly delighted to find the lawn here kept in such excellent order. There is nothing in the whole circle of gardening that adds so much to the beauty of a residence, as the green, velvety grass-plot.

From the nature of the soil here, which is very favourable to the growth of trees, we consider this place eminently adapted for a private arboretum. It might be commenced with a collection of the various species of Cratagus, Pinus,

Pavia, &c. and extended by degrees until a specimen of each of our finer trees was included in it. As already observed, we firmly believe that the day is not very distant when all our landowners will generally betake themselves to the work of forming arboretums, and, consequently, of perfecting their estates by planting. Ever since the publication of Loudon's great work, there has been nothing but bustle and activity in our tree nurseries, and the seasons have been too tardy in perfecting the required supplies. We trust the impulse so happily commenced will be kept up. The establishment of arboretums all over the land will be productive of two grand results,-the improvement of our country and climate. There will then be a sort of millenial perfection arrived at. The barren districts will rejoice in plenty, and the parched wilderness will bear the luxuriant, spreading evergreen. The seasons of Italy will be transferred to England, and England's warmth and genial clime will be felt within the wintry North.

At the opposite side of the town of Aylsham, is the mansion of Robert Copeman, Esq., surrounded by an extensive lawn and thriving oak plantations, exhibiting the advantageous results of careful cultivation. Fifty years hence, these trees will have formed perfect specimens of this kind, for they are now growing into those beautiful structures, which fill our parks with such elegance and grandeur. What we principally admired in these trees was the smooth straight trunks which they present, (resembling those of the pine tribe rather than the oak), and their extraordinary size for their years. We measured an English oak, twenty-one years planted, girting four feet; a Spanish chestnut, of a like age, four feet one inch in circumference; and another of the same species, raised from a nut planted nineteen years ago, by Mr. George Copeman, then a child, now girting three feet five inches, and rising to the height of forty feet. From these statements it would appear that the garbs of antiquity, wrapped up to many only in the distant future, are, after all, of easy purchase, and may be enjoyed at a short date. Amongst the older trees here, there is an

oak eleven feet three inches in girth, with thirty feet of smooth trunk; and another, of similar circumference, but with a clean stem of forty-five feet.

We have notes of all the remarkable trees, and other objects adapted to this work, in the town of Aylsham; but as we intend to devote a few of the last numbers of the ARBORETUM to the principal trees and gardens of the Towns and Villages of Norfolk, all such notices will appear under their proper department.

BLICKLING PARK,

THE SEAT OF THE DOWAGER LADY SUffield.

THIS is a very ancient seat, clad in especial grandeur. It derives a melancholy interest from its having been the birthplace and residence of Anne Boleyn, the wife of that monster of wickedness, Henry VIII., who married his queen from this house, and who is said to have come here personally for that purpose. It likewise appears that Charles II., with his queen, visited this seat; and that, at a date long anterior, it was the occasional resort of William the Conqueror, who erected the original building, and who transferred it to an Italian of remarkable wit and humour, whose office, it seems, was "to enliven the dull and gloomy disposition of a barbarous court." Stephenson, an old poet, notices the visit of the two first-mentioned kings in the following lines:

"Blickling two monarchs and two queens has seen ;

One king fetched thence-another brought a queen."

As every thing belonging to such a place must be invested with great interest to all our readers, we annex a minute notice of the hall from the Norfolk Tour, edited by the late John Chambers, Esq., the historian of Malvern and of Worcestershire, and published by John Stacy.

"The ground-plan is quadrangular, with two open courts in the centre, having a square turret at each angle of the building, terminated by a vane: the clock tower over the entrance is of more modern erection, but contributes to the importance of the building. The entrance from the court in front, formed by the offices and stables, is over a bridge of two arches, crossing a moat on either side of the bridge, upon a pedestal, is represented a bull bearing a shield. The general view of the noble pile from