I873-] GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS IN SCOTLAND. 133 



over, they are carefully lifted and planted out again in their old position, the 

 ground meantime having been thoroughly trenched and well manured, and a 

 good portion of fresh soil added to the beds [an excellent practice. — Ed.] With 

 this treatment they grow most luxuriantly, and produce blooms we have never 

 seen equalled. The principal forcing - houses are in the above division, and 

 occupy a south wall about 320 feet in length. They consist of a large green- 

 house, four Vineries, two Peach-houses, and a Fern-house. On the north of this 

 wall are a number of roomy sheds. Mushroom-house, seed-room, dwelling- 

 house for garden-assistants, garden -office, &c. Exotic plants are extensively 

 grown here ; and flower- forcing is carried on to a considerable extent during the 

 winter and spring months : likewise the forciug of Strawberries is extensively 

 and well carried on. INIr Adarason's treatment of these differs in some respects 

 from that which is generally practised. Small runners are taken ofi" about the 

 end of August ; these are pricked out pretty thickly into beds, and are allowed 

 to stand over till the following July, when they are carefully taken up, potted 

 and treated in the usual way. By the above means they never fail to produce 

 fine crops. Vine-growing has always been a great success at Balcarres, and the 

 pot-Vine (Black Hamburg) with its thirteen bunches sent through to the Inter- 

 national Fruit-Show at Glasgow last autumn, very deservedly took first prize in 

 this department. 



The next division is the kitchen-garden proper. It contains 34 acres, and 

 seems to be under thorough practical management, always producing abundant 

 crops of fruit and vegetables, particularly small fruits ; Gooseberries and Straw- 

 berries, in particular, being very superior in size and flavour. 



The third division consists of about 1 4 acre, and is principally occupied as 

 an orchard. In this division, however, is the fruit -room and a large pit filled 

 with stove-plants, also Melon and Cucumber houses, StraM'berry-pit, and 

 frame-ground. Kear the top of this division stand two or three Irish Yews of 

 unusual size, evidently of great age, and several fine specimens of Pampas Grass 

 (Gynerium argenteum), producing from 70 to 100 flower-stems 10 feet in height. 

 "We also observed several plants of the curious Gunnera scabra, producing 

 flower racemes 18 inches long. The flower-garden, lawns, and croquet-ground 

 adjoin the mansion, and extend in all to about 5 acres. These have been al' 

 remodelled within the last few years ; the old grassy steps and slopes have 

 been all done away vdth, and substantial and ornamental terrace-walls erected 

 in their stead, varying from 12 to 18 feet in height. These walls are being 

 speedily covered with the finest sorts of Koses and other choice climbing plants. 

 The walls occupy three sides of the flower-garden proper, which consists of 

 about two acres, and presents nearly a flat surface. 



The principal promenade walk is about 300 feet in length, and 20 in breadth. 

 All the other walks are 10 feet in breadth, edged with a neat fire-brick edging, 

 made especially for the purpose. A border, 12 feet wide, runs along the terrace- 

 wall; then the ground is divided into three equal divisions, in which are de- 

 signed large geometrical figures, with scroll-work, in box-edging. These figures 

 were principally designed by Lady Lindsay, in the designing of which much 

 fine taste has been displayed. They are planted during summer with the most 

 choice collection of bedding-plants, in the planting of which much care has 

 been taken to have the colours well balanced, in order to produce perfect har- 

 mony and gocd eff'ect. In the centre of the mid-division, there is a very neat 

 ornamental fountain with a large basin ; and between the terrace-stairs there 

 s another fountain, in the basin of which is a large number of gold and 



