Some of our public parks are of great extent, but the best of these will not compare with some of the private grounds of the Old World. Longleat, the seat of the Marquis of Bath, is enclosed by a fence sixteen miles round, and embraces 5,000 acres. The carriage roads and drives through these grounds comprise sixteen miles. The dwelling-house is so large that 125 people have slept there at one time.

The highest class of gardening skill is required to manage gardens like these. Fruit forcing is carried on very successfully. Hot-house grapes for instance, require extensive glass-houses. One, 55 feet long and 30 feet wide, is wholly occupied by the Black Hamburg, producing bunches weighing sometimes 7 lbs. Another, 90 feet long by 30 wide, has only four vines, which are so trained as to occupy the whole space. These are Muscat of Alexandria. These produce bunches about 6 lbs. each. The other, 50 feet by 30, is a house containing only five vines - two Lady Downes, one Prince's Black Muscat, and one Black, two black Alicante. Melons, or cante-loupes as they would be called in our country, have a house 40 by 30 feet allotted to them. But only four plants are in the house. The branches are trained over the whole extent, and bear from early spring to fall hundreds of fruits. Separate houses have peaches, figs, etc.