to the necessities of the ground, on the flat, as our own Walled 

 kitchen gardens are. They are often very large; sometimes Gardens 

 a sparkling brown burn runs through the middle ; sometimes 

 a small orchard carpeted with grass is enclosed, or a delightful 

 garden-house is found to terminate the centre walk j Irish 

 Yews may form an avenue down the middle, or be set square in 

 the centre, or quaint hedges of cut Laurel divide the garden into 

 squares. They may be found also of any shape, square or 

 oblong or occasionally round. The most picturesque to my 

 mind are those where the wall follows the natural lie of the 

 land, and does not enclose the whole garden, being built, 

 sometimes in the form of a large semi-circle from which the 

 ground falls quickly to the river below, and rises above it to 

 wood-crowned hills. Such a position as this gives ample scope 

 for picture planting, as a choice of background is always 

 available. 



The sketch at Kirkhill shows one example of the effects 

 which such a picturesque garden may possess. The path starts 

 on the level, and then disappears down the steep slope of the 

 hill to where at the bottom of the glen the Esk is swirling 

 round rocks clad in green velvet moss, or forming deep brown 

 pools in which the steep bank of the further side, with its 

 undergrowth of fern and bracken, is reflected. The flowers 

 which border the path gain immensely in effect by being 

 silhouetted against the distant trees. What opportunities again 

 for Wild Gardens such banks of the river afford, with all the 

 shelter of slope and garden wall above them ! 



At Barskimming, of which unfortunately I have no 

 sketch, though it is full of pictures, the garden is level for a 

 space with wide grass paths, a sundial or a stone vase stands 



H 57 



