iSyi.] GARDENS IN THE SOUTH OF FIFE. 475 



vigour. The kinds grown are Muscats (Black and White), Lady 

 Downes, Buckland's Sweetwater, Abercairney Seedling, Black Hambro', 

 and others. All are apparently at home, the treatment given suiting 

 each kind. 



We took a turn round the extensive kitchen-garden, much of which, 

 however, is taken up with trees of a great size and large breadths of 

 healthy Rhododendrons. Dysart has long been famous for this class 

 of plants, and we should suppose the collection never was more exten- 

 sive or in finer condition than at present. The flower-borders, which 

 were so long a source of attraction to visitors and others, are now 

 things of the past. Ground for vegetable crops being more in demand, 

 these borders are used to raise supplies for the kitchen. New flower- 

 gardens are in course of making, but I am not sure that they will (even 

 under the management of a Pirie) be so effective as the borders so 

 long have been. One thing in one of them deserves special notice — 

 where Calceolarias, Geraniums, Verbenas, &c., were wont to luxuriate 

 and display their fine colours, is growing a splendid crop of Carrots, such 

 as is seldom seen in this part of the country. The sight of them is 

 enough to cause any Fife gardener to break the tenth commandment, 

 so seldom can we secure a crop from vermin. So much for the pro- 

 duce of ground which has not grown vegetables. for many years. There 

 are a number of glass-houses and pits for plants, &c. One large struc- 

 ture, a lean-to for plants, was filled with Camellias and Rhododendrons 

 of the finer sorts, which make a grand display in winter; and the quan- 

 tity of cut flowers had is enormous. These are planted out, — an arrange- 

 ment which is always attended with satisfactory results, and gives less 

 labour and vigorous plants. 



The new flower-gardens in course of making are at one end, and 

 in front, of the mansion. It would be premature to say what these 

 gardens are really to be, so much (at the time of our visit) required to 

 be done to get them into order. One portion is on gravel, and another 

 is on grass — the latter separated from the former by a broad walk, 

 grass plat, and terrace. The garden on grass promises to be an exceed- 

 ingly neat affair, but the position being so close to the town of Dysart, 

 and the houses not quite out of view, will rob this garden of much of 

 its beauty and interest. There has lately been a beautiful carriage- 

 drive taken from the house westward through the grounds. This is an 

 immense improvement, and the work is well done. Though it is 

 along the beach close to the rocks, the planting of the trees and the 

 windings of the road are done so that an idea of great extent and var- 

 iety is given ; openings are left where peeps of the sea are to be seen j 

 and at the termination, a short avenue shows the outline of Ravens- 

 craig Castle, which is a grand old ruin standing boldly on a rock washed 



