flowers, the rich, dark velvet of the half-distant yew^s, the weather-worn 

 granite and rough-cast of the great building. 



If the flowers in the second and third pictures were in our southern 

 counties the time would be the end of August or at latest the middle of 

 September, but the seasons of the flowers in Scotland are much later, 

 and these would be October borders. 



The Castle stands upon a wide, level, grassy terrace, which is stopped 

 on the north-eastern side by the parapet of a retaining wall, broken by a 

 flight of steps down to the path that is bounded by the two hedges of 

 ancient yews shown in the first picture. These hedges divide the 

 flower garden into two equal parts on the lower level, for, from where 

 the Castle stands, the ground falls to the south and east. On each side 

 of the steps, just beneath the terrace wall, is a flower border. Imme- 

 diately on entering the double wall of yew there is an opening to right and 

 left — an arch cut in the living green — giving access to the two square 

 gardens, in both of which a path passes all round next the yews. There 

 is also a flower border on two sides. The middle space is grass with 

 flower beds ; in the left-hand garden (coming from the Castle) are bold 

 masses of herbaceous plants in beds grouped round a fountain ; in the 

 one on the right, for the most part, Roses and Lilies. 



To the south-east, and occupying the space next beyond the rose 

 garden and the end of the lawn adjoining the Castle, is the kitchen 

 garden. The main walks have flower borders. Where the two cross 

 paths intersect is a Mulberry tree with an encircling seat. The subjects 

 of the second and third pictures are within the kitchen garden. 



Many are the beautiful points of view from the kitchen garden, for 

 there the grand yew hedges show beyond the flowers ; then, towering 

 aloft, comes the fairy castle, and then fine trees ; for trees are all 

 around, closely approaching the garden's boundaries. 



The brilliancy of colour masses in these Scottish gardens is some- 

 thing remarkable. Whether it is attributable to soil or climate one 

 cannot say ; possibly the greater length of day, and therefore of daily 

 sunshine, of these northern summers, may account for it. Of the great 

 number of people who go North for the usual autumn shooting, those 



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