SCOTTISH GARDENS 



with sufficient certainty in the turf, players need 

 desire no painted lines. That pretty daisy is rather 

 fickle in behaviour ; but perhaps it would respond to 

 the stimulus of lime applied in a wash, which has 

 had such a remarkable effect on the common green- 

 leaved kind. One of the first plants to attract 

 attention on the terrace walls is the violet abutilon 

 (Abutilon vitifolium], which grows twelve feet high, 

 presenting a lovely spectacle when covered with its 

 large flowers in June and July. The rare and tender 

 Olearia Fosteri is quite happy here, sheltered by broad 

 curtains of common myrtle and several species of 

 Escallonia. Drymis winteri, also, grows robustly, pro- 

 ducing fine trusses of fragrant white flowers early in 

 the year, and perfecting its glossy foliage in the 

 sunshine which floods every corner of the terraces 

 and lawns. 



On the whole, however, these terraces, so ample 

 in their proportions, so admirably suited in their 

 south-easterly aspect for the culture of rare exotics, 

 have not yet been turned to full account, as doubtless 

 they soon will be, for their owner, the Marquess of 

 Ailsa, constantly resides in the home of his ancestors, 

 and is an enthusiastic and skilful amateur. Moreover, 

 he is fortunate in his head gardener, Mr. Murray, 

 who, both by knowledge and inclination, is well 

 qualified for the charge of an extensive collection 

 of exotics. Much of the wall space is occupied by 

 plants which will thrive in any garden ; but these 

 are being gradually removed to make way for choicer 



172 



