11 
BALBIRNIE. 
Returning by the same route to Thornton, it was expected 
that Markinch would be reached about one o’clock; but the 
railway journey was tedious, and it was nearly two o'clock 
before the party arrived at their destination. The neigh- 
bourhood is rich in historical incidents. It comprises many 
ancient seats of old Scottish families—Balfours, Beatouns (now 
Bethune), Leslies, Lindsays, Melvilles, and others of renown in 
Scottish annals—but few of them can be seen from the route, 
and none were visited except the modern home of the Balfours 
of Balbirnie, for which the party was bound. 
The drive from the station through the small country town 
of Markinch was about half a mile, when the extensive and 
beautiful policies of Balbirnie, the seat of Mr John Balfour of 
Balbirnie, were entered, through the sylvan glades of which the 
company were led for the next two or three hours, to see the 
principal features of interest to arborists, and to admire the 
fine trees and rich sylvan landscape. The mansion is a hand- 
some edifice, standing in a romantic spot, richly embosomed 
among stately trees, and surrounded by beautiful gardens and 
well-kept grounds of considerable extent. During the long 
possession of the present highly esteemed proprietor, great 
improvements have been carried out on all parts of the estate, 
which is now among the best organised, as it is the largest 
in acreage, in the county of Fife. 
The company were most cordially received in front of the 
mansion by Colonel and Mrs Balfour, Mr Edward Balfour, 
younger of Balbirnie, and other members of the family, and 
immediately proceeded on a tour through the grounds and 
park under the guidance of Mr Edward Balfour. A large 
number of very fine trees were seen. In a grand old beech 
avenue one of the trees girthed 10 feet 9 inches at 5 feet up, 
and had 25 feet of a clean bole, with many others closely 
approaching it in size. A walk along a charming burnside, 
where a dark-leaved boxwood formed a fine feature in the 
underwood, was much enjoyed ; and not less enchanting was 
the sight of the beautifully undulating and well-wooded park, 
the trees being chiefly beeches with fine wide-spreading heads. 
A grand birch, standing a little to the south of the mansion- 
house, attracted much notice. At about 9 feet up it spread out 
its branches like a candelabra, the arms being of great thickness, 
and presented a very curious and picturesque appearance. 
On returning to the pleasure- grounds, the company were 
hospitably entertained to luncheon, which was served in a large 
