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summit and slopes of Cotton Hill, and lent an air of romance to 
the surroundings. From this elevated spot, that part of the 
river Spey which was forded by the ill-fated Prince Charlie on 
his way to meet the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden, was seen 
and noted with interest. From the summit of the hill a splendid 
view was also had of the Moray Firth, and across it to the 
distant hills of Cromarty, Ross, and Sutherland. 
Leaving the picturesque summer-house on the top of the hill, 
the party proceeded down a grassy hollow in which were seen 
growing some remarkably fine specimens of park trees. Among 
them were gigantic larches and spruces, and some of the 
largest silver firs on the estate. A grand larch, said to 
be the largest in the policies, and probably one of the earliest 
planted larches north of the Grampians, had a huge trunk which 
girthed 15 feet at 5 feet up. At the foot of the hollow the 
party entered the “Quarry Garden,” which to many of those 
present formed the most attractive item in the day’s programme. 
It was at one time a freestone quarry, but had been transformed, 
after much labour and expense, by the late Duchess of Richmond 
and Gordon, into a most fascinating spot, and certainly forms a 
model piece of landscape gardening of almost unrivalled taste 
and beauty. Round its steep sides tiers of terraces have been 
made, while the whole was set off to the best effect with 
ornamental trees and shrubs, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, 
barberries, laurels, and other evergreens, “weeping” trees of 
various kinds, and choice conifers, among which were noticed 
handsome specimens of Abies Douglassi, A. nobilis, Wellingtoma 
gigantea, Cupressus Lawsoniana in variety, Thutopsis borealis, 
Thuja gigantea, and others, lending a variety and charm to the 
scene of a most enchanting character. A grand specimen of 
Abies lasiocarpa, about 55 feet in height, and thickly clothed 
from base to apex with its emerald foliage, attracted special 
attention from the visitors. A neat tea-house crowns the summit 
of the western promontory of the Garden, from which a lovely 
bird’s-eye view of the whole Garden was obtained while the 
party were sheltering from a heavy shower. 
Leaving this charming spot, the party proceeded along the 
famed ‘‘ Holly Banks,” where many fine clumps of indigenous 
hollies, some of them apparently of great age, were seen and 
much admired, in spite of the incessant downpour of rain which 
had now set in, and threatened to spoil the day’s programme. 
