301 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARRORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



giant grasses, the ground being well sheltered by large clumps 

 of the choicest sorts of rhododendrons, over 20 feet in height ; 

 and here bamboos from Japan, Arundinarias from the Himalayas, 

 and the Phyllostachys from China are to be seen. 



The Deer Park, which extends to 600 acres, and is stocked 

 with Japanese, red, and fallow deer, is situated on the top of the 

 hill, and is approached by a path leading through a lot of tine 

 larch trees, from eighty to a hundred years old. The summit of 

 the hill, which is at an elevation of 800 feet above sea-level, 

 affords a magnificent view of the surrounding country, the Mourn e 

 Mountains forming the background, with the majestic Slieve 

 Donard towering to the height of nearly 3000 feet above the sea, 

 while close at hand are the heathery tops of Slieve-na-Slat. 

 Within the park there is a very interesting pleasure-ground and 

 several small lakes. The grounds are laid out and planted with 

 great taste, and contain a selection of the rarest flowering shrubs 

 and conifers. The islands in the lakes are planted with pampas 

 grass, rhododendrons, azaleas, cypresses, cryptomerias, and 

 hydrangeas, which afford shelter and protection to the orna- 

 mental water-fowl. The Spring Gardens, which were next visited, 

 are about twenty acres in extent, and lie to the south and west 

 of the Castle. They contain some splendid English and Turkey 

 oaks, giant hollies, immense specimens of the bird-cherry, masses 

 of the finest Himalayan and hybrid rhododendrons, Japanese red 

 maples, and choice flowering and foliage shrubs. In front of the 

 demesne there is a large lake, a mile and a half in length, with 

 beautifully wooded banks, along which clumps of Gaultheria 

 Shallon were growing in great luxuriance. Some silver firs were 

 measured in this locality, and girthed 12 feet 4 inches, 11 feet 

 2 inches, and 10 feet G inches. Having finished their interesting 

 ramble through the grounds, the visitors returned to the vicinity 

 of the Castle, a stately edifice in the Scottish baronial style of 

 architecture, built in 1854 from the. grey granite of the estate 

 quarries. 



It is impossible to give even an outline of all that was seen 

 dm-ing the limited time at the disposal of the company, but what 

 has been said will indicate the wealth and magnificence of the 

 unique collection of plants grown at Castlewellan, which one and 

 all of the visitors were loth to leave. 



After luncheon, which was served in the "Winter Garden, the 

 company were photographed in front of the mansion. Before 



