A Tour through the Woods and Forests of 

 Duff House, Banffshire. 



Out for a holiday ! a grand, bracincf, healtli-invis-oratinsr holiday, 

 to be spent in examining the Duff House grounds and plantations, 

 the seat of the Earl of Fife. We shall not enter into any traditional 

 account or legendary lore in connection therewith, but shall confine 

 ourselyes strictly to its arbori cultural features. All who haye yisited 

 the district must know that the grounds are in proximity to the 

 town of Banff, and intersected by the liiver Doveron, or in Gaelic 

 *' the black water." 



After crossing the Bridge of Banff, which is of seven arches, and 

 spans the Doyeron, we immediately approach one of the main 

 entrances to the grounds, a large massive iron gate. The few trees 

 that enliven the neighbourhood of the entrance, inside the gate, are 

 composed principally of hardwoods, viz , plane, elm, and ash. Here 

 one is struck with their stunted-like appearance, and also the effect 

 of the prevailing wind, which is very great indeed, the ti:ees being all 

 more or less stag-headed, and growing to one side, caused no doubt 

 by the fierce storms which frequent these northern coasts. Among 

 these trees, and surrounded by a neat fence, are planted a number of 

 black Austrian pine {Finns Austriaca), and thriving very well 

 since they have been planted. 



Travelling along the carriage drive, we meet with many more trees, 

 all telling the same tale, viz., the severity of the Boreal blast. The 

 trees which seem to resist the blast best here seem to be the poplar, 

 beech, and plane. On the right hand stand the gardens, in which 

 is a handsome evergreen oak (Qnercus Hex). We are informed that 

 this is one of the largest on the estate, but although not possessed of 

 a long bole or stem, yet its beautiful well-developed umbrageous head 

 induced us to stop and take its dimensions, which are as follow : — 

 circumference of trunk at 1 ft. from the ground 5 ft. 4 in., circumference 

 of branches 102 ft., height 25 ft. Altogether it is a handsome tree, 

 and well worth the space it occupies. We next join the other main 

 drive, having another massive iron entrance gate, and opening into the 

 main street of the town of Banff. Inside this gate are many different 

 kinds of trees and shrubs, consisting of evergreen oaks and purple 

 beeches on one side, and on the other are a few acacias, with their 

 beautiful but small leaves giving beauty to the outline, especially • 



