364 THE FLORIST. 



and of a certain height — for this is important. The long borders which 

 run beside the upper walk are managed in the same way. The effect 

 of this arrangement is greatly heightened by the great length of the 

 walks. Mr. M 'Donald, who has quite the eye of an artist, plants at 

 certain defined distances masses of very decided colours, forming centres, 

 from which, on each side, the colours are contrasted. Nothing can 

 exceed the effect produced by this mode of dealing with so large a 

 quantity of plants. 



We annex a ground plan, which, though necessarily on a small 

 scale, to suit our pages — too small to show the end walks — will enable 

 our readers to form an idea of the design. From this it will be seen 

 that the cross is intersected by three walks — 1, 2, 3 ; these are gravel, 

 10 feet wide, with borders on each side, planted with standard and 

 dwarf Roses. A large circular bed with radiating divisions, fills 

 up the centre of the design ; this is planted with a selection of hardy 

 Heaths. The series of fan-shaped beds, with similar divisions, are 

 filled with the showiest bedding plants and annuals, judiciously 

 managed for effect ; while the four large divisions between them are 

 planted with American plants. The wheel-like figures contain 

 fountains, which form centres to large circular beds, enclosing a 

 cruciform pattern filled with Heaths, with the intervening space turf. 

 The small angles in the centre have the arms of the Drummond family 

 designed in dwarf Box ; this looks very neat. Behind the borders we 

 have described on each side the main walks, and forming a background 

 to them, run lines of spiral headed trees ; they consist of common and 

 Irish Yews, Junipers, Red Cedars, Cypresses, common and variegated 

 Hollies, Fern-leaved Beech, &c. ; many of these are 20 feet in height, 

 are perfectly symmetrical, and must have taken years, and vast care in 

 training, to work them into their present form ; they produce a very 

 striking effect from either end of the walk, with the long line of showy 

 flowering plants before them, and the rich verdure of the tints which 

 compose the walks. The remaining space, which in the plan is shown 

 blank, is planted up with nearly every kind of evergreen, interspersed 

 with flowering shrubs ; these are not huddled together, but have room 

 to develope themselves, while at the same time they are kept within 

 certain limits by timely pruning. Most tastefully arranged in the 

 midst of these masses of shrubs are vases, pedestals, sculpture, and 

 numbers of the spirally trained trees alluded to above, in addition to 

 those already noticed. The effect of all this is best comprehended from 

 the court-yard (A) 80 feet above, from whence, as we observed at 

 starting, the view surpasses anything we had previously seen. Looking 

 at the general design from this point, the masses and long lines of colour 

 are amply reUeved by evergreens ; and the whole is so happily blended 

 together, that nothing appears wanting. The rich evergreen masses 

 would by themselves perhaps have appeared heavy ; but intersected by 

 walks, carrying margins of colour with them, and the central parts being 

 relieved by architecture and trees, vases, &c., there is produced a 

 happy combination of colour and repose, forming as a whole a picture 

 which we venture to affirm has never been surpassed. 



Before leaving Drummond Castle we were conducted by Mr. 



