132 THE GARDENER. [March 



GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS IN SCOTLAND. 



BALCARRES. 



Balcarres, the seat of Sir Coutts Linsday, Bart., is pleasantly situated on a 

 rising eminence about three miles north of the Firth of Forth, on the south-east 

 coast of Fifeshire. 



Balcarres House, formerly the residence of the Earls of Crawford and Bal- 

 carres, is a substantial old building, to which considerable additions have been 

 made by the present and former i)roprietors. It was in a small room of the 

 original building that Lady Ann Linsday, afterwards Lady Ann Barnard, 

 wrote the fine old ballad, " Auld Itobin Gray. " From the situation of Balcarres 

 extensive and varied views are obtained along a rich and fertile coast ; and far 

 out into the German Ocean is seen (in mid-ocean) the beautiful Island of ISIay, 

 with its beacon-lights and its carpet of green verdure ; and westward along the 

 coast, and far inland, the prospect is varied and beautiful, embracing a number 

 of tlrriving towns, and a rich agricultural and mineral district. 



The last object the eye can discern in the far west is the lofty summit of 

 Ben liedi ; while looking southwards the eye takes in the whole range of 

 coast and country from Queensferry and the Pentland Hills in the west, to St 

 Abb's Head near Berwick-upon-Tweed in the east ; and, looking directly south, 

 on the opposite side of the Forth is seen the jncturesque little town of North 

 Berwick, with its lofty Law (hill) immediately behind ; while a little further 

 east, and in the waters of the Forth, stands that wonderful mass of solid rock 

 (the Bass) whose sole inhabitants are Solan geese. Looking to the south-west 

 the eye takes in the shipping port and town of Leitli; also Edinburgh, its 

 Castle, Arthur's Seat, &c. &c. 



On the north side of the Forth, and immediately south of Balcarres, 

 stands the village and parish church of Kilconquhar, with its beautiful and 

 picturesque loch of fresh water, covering nearly 90 acres of land : all combine 

 to make Balcarres very interesting in point of view, scenery, &c. 



The park in which the mansion-house and gardens are situated is of great 

 extent, and has a gentle declivity to the south, and contains a number of fine 

 old trees, amongst which are several fine old Hollies, including two ver}"- fine 

 specimens of the Queen Holly, denoting great age. We likewise observed two 

 grand specimens of Evergreen Oak, which were planted in the year 161G. From 

 their healthy condition, they have the appearance of being well cared for. On 

 approaching the kitchen-garden from the west, we first came upon the gardener's 

 house, a very neat, substantial, and commodious building, well ornamented with 

 choice Boses and standard Hollies. The kitchen-garden is about 6 acres in 

 extent, and is enclosed and divided into three divisions by stone walls 12 and 

 14 feet high. The first division we entered consists of about 1^ acre ; and on 

 entering there is a very romantic rockery containing an extensive and varied 

 collection of British Ferns, Alpine plants, &c. A portion of this division is 

 divided with neatly-kept Yew hedges, and contains modern designs of flower- 

 gardens, in which are collected a choice and extensive assortment of Roses 

 and herbaceous plants. We may mention here that the Rose Souvenir 

 de la Malmaison is very extensively grown in this garden, and with good 

 effect. Mr Adamson seems to take this Rose under his own peculiar care. 

 The plants are taken up in autumn, after the wood is thoroughly matured, 

 and planted at the bottom of a south wall with a little kindly soil 

 thoroughly worked in among the roots; and after all danger of frost is 



