BALOASKIE 



dove nesting in a myrtle trained to a height of 

 twenty feet on the wall. On the lower terrace is 

 an immense Cornus (Benthamia) capitata occupying 

 the whole space between two buttresses. It flowers 

 abundantly, as a rule, which, as Mr. George 

 Cavendish would say, "is a rare thing and seldom 

 to be seen " in the north country, at least ; but it 

 appears to have reached the limit of old age, signs 

 of which are apparent in its weakly growth and 

 sparse foliage. Cordyline (Draccena) australis appears 

 perfectly hardy here, promising, when a little older, 

 to present a feature peculiarly in harmony with the 

 stately surroundings. Phygelius capensis, usually 

 grown as a not very effective herbaceous perennial, 

 has reached a height of twenty feet on a wall an 

 example well worth following in other gardens. The 

 western staircase of the upper terrace is garlanded 

 with the far-reaching sprays of that most generous 

 of all clematis, C. montana, which pours cataracts of 

 ivory flowers over the old stonework and makes the 

 air redolent of incense like May-blossom. 



Among the humbler herbs, nothing is so remark- 

 able as the abundance and luxuriance of the great 

 Christmas rose (Helleborus niger var. maximus or 

 altifolius). This is mainly due to the special 

 treatment accorded to it by Mr. Maule, the head 

 gardener, who obtained a root of this, the finest of 

 all the hellebores, many years ago from the late 

 Miss Hope of Wardie Lodge. I likewise received 

 a root at about the same time from the same source ; 



149 



