chiefly oak, I think, with some large firs, one quite grand; while the wood on the left is quite different, having some very tall Spanish chestnuts loaded with fruit, some beeches, some firs—­but I have not had time yet to investigate thoroughly.  Thus this little bit of three acres has five subdivisions, each with a quite distinct character of its own, and I never remember seeing such variety in such a small area.  The red wavy line is about where I shall have to make my road, for the place has now no road, and I think I am very lucky in discovering it and in getting it.  Another advantage is in the land, which is varied to suit all crops.  I fancy ...  I shall find places to grow most of my choice shrubs, etc., better than here.  I expect bulbs of all kinds will grow well, and I mean to plant a thousand or so of snowdrops, crocuses, squills, daffodils, etc., in the orchard, where they will look lovely.

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TO MR. W.G.  WALLACE

Parkstone, Dorset.  November 6, 1901.

My dear Will,—­ ...  I have taken advantage of a foggy cold day to trace you a copy of the ground plan of the proposed house....  Of course the house will be much larger than we want, but I look to future value, and rather than build it smaller, to be enlarged afterwards, I would prefer to leave the drawing-room and bedroom adjoining with bare walls inside till they can be properly finished.  The house-keeper’s room would be a nice dining-room, and the hall a parlour and drawing-room combined.  But the outside must be finished, on account of the garden, creepers, etc.  The S.E. side (really about S.S.E.) has the fine views.  If you can arrange to come at Christmas we will have a picnic on the ground the first sunny day.  I was all last week surveying—­a very difficult job, to mark out exactly three acres so as to take in exactly as much of each kind of ground as I wanted, and with no uninterrupted view over any one of the boundary lines!  I found the sextant, and it was very useful setting out the two right angles of the northern boundary.  I have not got possession yet, but hope to do so by next week.  The house, we reckon, can be built for L1,000 at the outside....

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TO MRS. FISHER

Parkstone, Dorset.  February 4, 1902.

Dear Mrs. Fisher,—­ ...  You will be surprised to hear that I have been so rash as to buy land and to (propose to) build a house!  Every other effort to get a pleasant country cottage with a little land having failed, we discovered, accidentally, a charming spot only four miles from this house and half a mile from Broadstone Station, and have succeeded in buying three acres, chosen by myself, from Lord Wimborne at what is really a reasonable price.  In its contour, views, wood, and general aspect of