Close to the house a flight of steps leads to a flower garden on the higher level. A sundial on steps stands in the midmost space, with beds and clumps of bright flowers around. There is other good gardening at Rockingham, and a curious “mount”; not of the usual circular [Illustration: THE YEW ALLEY, ROCKINGHAM FROM THE PICTURE IN THE POSSESSION OF MISS WILLMOTT] shape, but in straight terraces. But it is these grand old hedges of yew that seem to cling most closely to the fabric and sentiment of the ancient building--half house, half castle, whose windows have looked upon them for hundreds of years, and whose inmates have ever paced within their venerable shade. BRYMPTON Brympton d’Evercy in Somersetshire--not far from Montacute, the residence of the Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane--is a house of mixed architectural character of great interest. A large portion of the earlier Tudor building now shows as the western (entrance) front, while, facing southward, is the handsome façade of classical design, said to be the work of Inigo Jones, but more probably that of a later pupil. The balustraded wall flanking the entrance gates--the subject of the picture--appears to be of the time of this important addition, for it is better in design than the balustrade of the terrace, which was built in the nineteenth century. But the terrace is of fine effect, with the great flight of steps midway in its length that lead down to a wide unspoilt lawn. This again passes to the fish-pond, then to parkland with undulating country beyond. The treatment of the ground is admirable. Fifty years ago the lawn would probably have been cut up into flower-beds, a frivolity forbidden by the dignified front. Gardening is always difficult, often best let alone, in many such cases. When the architecture, especially architecture of the classical type, is good and pure, it admits of no intrusion of other forms upon its surfaces. It is complete in itself, and the gardener’s additions become meddling encroachments. When any planting is allowable against houses of this type--as in cases where they are less pure in style and have larger wall-spaces--it should be of something of bold leafage, or large aspect of one simple character; the strong-growing _Magnolia grandiflora_ as an upright example, and _Wistaria_ as one of horizontal [Illustration: THE GATEWAY, BRYMPTON FROM THE PICTURE IN THE POSSESSION OF MR. EDWIN CLEPHAN] growth. There is some planting between the lower windows at Brympton, but it is doubtful whether it would not have been better omitted. It is a place more suitable (if on this front any gardening is desirable) for the standing of Bays or some such trees, in tubs or boxes on the terrace.