424 THE GARDENER. [Sept. 



is turned by manufacturers) the sun peeped out, which gave a brighter 

 hope of the weather, and I could at the moment have sung — 



Morn amid the mountains, 



Lovely solitude ; 

 Gushing streams and fountains 



Murmur (!od is good. 



Balgonie Castle, now a ruin, was passed, and in a few minutes after- 

 wards we were driving through the grounds of Balfour House (the 

 seat of Admiral Bethune), which may be classed as one of the most 

 beautiful in the county. We met iMr Dewar, the gardener, at his 

 house, who was waiting to welcome us. We at once proceeded towards 

 the pleasure-grounds, which lie around the mansion, which is famous as 

 having been the residence of Cardinal Bethune. We have said the grounds 

 are beautiful, and we never saw them to better advantage than on this 

 occasion. The beautiful shrubs and Coniferie with which this place 

 abounds have grown very freely and luxuriant this season. Conspic- 

 uous were handsome specimens of Wellingtonias, Douglas Firs, Arau- 

 carias, (Sec. The secret of their great luxuriance and health is, not only 

 that the soil in which they are growing was prepared with great care, but 

 they receive every season a good supply of manure on the surface, which 

 is neatly covered with earth, thus keeping the grounds always in "full 

 dress," as well as supplying the needful to the roots of the trees. There 

 is a neat flower-garden, on grass, in front of the mansion, well filled 

 with the usual gay bedding-plants, only vraiting for a little sun to make 

 them as gay as in former years. A little further on is another flower- 

 garden on grass, formed by a multiplicity of squares and circles, filled 

 with artistically-arranged plants ; and, encircling this garden, are beds 

 of unusually well-grown Roses, coming, as it were, between the 

 bedding-plants and the trees and shrubs. The collection of Roses 

 has long been a source of attraction at Balfour, and this season they 

 have been remarkably fine. Two borders, which run the whole length 

 (north and south) of the kitchen-garden, contain the principal selection. 

 The finest and most useful sorts only are grown, regardless of mere 

 novelty. A walk divides the borders, and the vegetable ground is shut 

 out from view with a wire fence, covered with fine plants, an arr^inge- 

 ment not always sufiiciently kept in view where flowers are planted in 

 kitchen-gardens. There is an archway of Roses at the north end of 

 the walk, and to stand there and look over these borders when 

 at their best, is a sight which is not easily forgotten. The system 

 of culture, after thoroughly preparing the ground with manure, 

 mulching, Sec, is this : the Roses are planted in rows, and the 

 strong wood is pegged down, the smaller growths are cut out ; liberal 

 mulching is given in winter, and forked in after the Roses are pruned 



