Nl'zv and Rare Flozvcrs and Fruits 



171 



the neglect and ruin to which the whole place 

 was subjected prior to the accession, in 1840, 

 of John-Hamilton, eighth Earl of Stair, and 

 uncle of the present noble proprietor, who 

 restored the gardens and pleasure grounds to 

 even more than their original magnificence. 

 The tree, growing against an old wall un- 

 trained and unpruned, attracted attention, 

 even in that neglected state, by its ripening, 

 in fine seasons, abundant crops of fruit early 



We have received a letter from Mr Fowler, 

 the gardener at Castle-Kennedy, in which he 

 says : — 



" The largest of the fruit (forced) is now past for 

 the season, but I send you an average specimen. The 

 last two seasons some of the fruit weighed nearly 70Z., 

 and measured close upon 1 1 inches round the thickest 

 part. I measured one the other day in the presence 

 of two neighbouring proprietors, which was fully 9 

 inches in circumference. Planted out in the same 

 house, and in every respect treated in the same manner 



The Castle-Kennedy Fig. 



in August, remarkable for large size and ex- 

 cellence of quality. Young plants grown as 

 .standards have frequently ripened fruit at 

 Castle-Kennedy ; and it has there been found 

 vastly superior to any other variety either for 

 forcing or wall-training. Compared with the 

 well-known Brunsw'ick fig (which the Castle- 

 Kennedy resembles in colour), it is larger and 

 more thickened towards the apex; and the 

 flesh, which is reddish brown throughout, has 

 an exquisite flavour. 



with the following sorts, it ripens a fortnight earlier 

 than the White Marseilles, more than three weeks 

 earlier than the Bro\\-n Turkey, and quite a month 

 before the Brunswick, requiring little more than three 

 months to mature its first crop. There is a peculiarity 

 about it, which I have never observed in any other 

 fig. When within a few days of being ripe it begins 

 to exude a pure, honey-like substance from its eye, of 

 most exquisite flavour, which, when the fruit is fully 

 ripe, becomes viscid, and hangs down like a clear 

 crystal pendant." 



Our engraving represents the specimen 

 sent to us by Mr Fowler. 



