25 
A stroll through the extensive and beautiful flower-gardens, 
on the south front of the castle, was greatly enjoyed, the moist 
air being laden with the perfume of roses and other sweet-scented 
flowers. The principal garden has been laid out with much 
taste and skill in the Italian style, and ornamented with statues, 
vases, and fountains. Lawns and walks were broad and smooth, 
the beds and borders well and tastefully filled, and the whole in 
perfect order. 
Passing out of the garden on the western side, the party 
proceeded to examine some of the noblest trees that so richly 
adorn the policies in the neighbourhood of the castle. Standing 
on the greensward of the Home Park, immediately to the 
westward of the castle, are many truly remarkable specimens 
of ornamental and timber trees, with giant stems and wide- 
spreading umbrageous heads, calling forth the admiration of all 
beholders. 
A few minutes’ walk across the grass brought the party to one 
of the most notable trees in the north of Scotland, known as “the 
Duchess Tree,” a magnificent ime, which drew forth raptures of 
admiration. It is carefully protected and tended, and the boughs 
sweep down to the greensward all round, Beneath its ample shade 
the whole party of about seventy gathered round the massive fluted 
stem, to which the measuring tape was applied, and it was found 
to girth 17 feet, at 5 feet from the ground. The tree rises to a 
height of about 90 feet, and the gracefully drooping branches 
have a circumference of 114 yards, Among other trees measured 
were a walnut,—said to be the finest in the district,—13 feet 
5 inches in girth, and 78 feet in spread of branches; a grand 
example cf Spanish chestnut, 15 feet 7 inches in girth; a 
splendid beech, 16 feet 1 inch in girth ; a tall stemmed beech, 13 
feet 4 inches in girth; a false acacia (obinia), 8 feet 3 inches 
in girth; a handsome old yew, 8 feet in girth; a massive horse- 
chestnut, 15 feet 2 inches in girth; and a gigantic black Italian 
poplar, girthed 15 feet 3 inches, all at 5 feet up. 
The inspection of these notable trees brought the party to the 
head of the grand walk running south from the castle through the 
centre of the flower-gardens to their boundary. Here, surround- 
ing the base of the stem of a handsome elm, and stretching out 
over its roots for some distance, a very artistic and beautiful 
design of variously-coloured pebbles has been formed, with the 
name of Lord G. G. Lennox neatly worked into the bordering, 
