Direct descendants of the old Norman keep, these Scottish castles, for 

 the most part, retain the four-sided tower, as to the main portion of the 

 structure. The walls need no buttresses, for they are of immense 

 thickness, and the vaulted masonry, usually of the simple barrel form, that 

 carries the floors of, at any rate, the lower stories, ties the whole structure 

 together. The angle turrets carried on bold corbels that are so conspicuous 

 a feature of these northern castles, broke away from the Norman forms 

 and became a distinct character of the Scottish work. They were a 

 helpful addition to the means of defence, and, as long as they were built 

 for use, added much to the beauty and dignity of the structure. The 

 only detail that shows a tendency to debasement in Crathes is the 

 quantity of useless cannon-shaped gargoyles, put for ornament only, in 

 places where they could not possibly do their legitimate work of carrying 

 off rain-water from the roof. 



There could have been no pleasure garden in the old days ; but now 

 these ancient strongholds, mellowed by the centuries, seem grateful for 

 the added beauty of good gardening. The grand yew hedges may be 

 of the seventeenth century. They stand up solid and massive for ten 

 feet or more, with roof-shaped tops, and then rise again at intervals into 

 great blocks, bearing ornaments like circular steps crowned with a ball. 

 The ornament is simpler, a low block and ball only, in the first picture, 

 where they accentuate the arches that lead right and left into the two 

 divisions of the flower garden. This plainer form is perhaps more suitable 

 to this grand old place than the more elaborate, just because it is simpler 

 and more dignified. 



The flower garden, as it is to-day, is quite modern. The finest of 

 the hardy flowers are well grown in bold groups. Luxuriant are the 

 masses of Phlox and tall Pyrethrum, of towering Rudbeckia, of Bocconia, 

 now in seed-pod but scarcely less handsome than when in bloom ; of the 

 bold yellow Tansy and Japan Anemones ; all telling, by their size and 

 vigour, of a strong loamy soil. 



Many are the arches of cluster and other climbing Roses ; at one 

 point in the kitchen garden coming near enough together to make a 

 tunnel-like effect. 



Wonderful is the colouring and diversity of texture ! — the bright 

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