DALZELL CASTLE 



military road, known as Watling. Street, and anti- 

 quaries may hear, with less or more scepticism, that 

 the garden summer-house was built in 1736 on the 

 site of a Roman camp. The spacious grounds beyond 

 and around the terraces are planted with many choice 

 trees and flowering shrubs. Never have I seen such 

 abundance of pink and crimson hawthorn pity 'tis 

 that the lord of this fair demesne should miss them 

 in their prime, for, like the Laird o' Cockpen, 



" His mind it ta'en up wi' affairs o' the State " 



at this season. 



Midway between the house and the kitchen garden 

 is a well-ordered rose garden, sheltered from cutting 

 winds by thriving conifers, deciduous trees, and 

 hybrid rhododendrons. Two very shapely scarlet 

 oaks add much grace to this part of the grounds. 

 A dell near the carriage drive has been planned as 

 a bog garden on a scale exceeding the means of 

 keeping rampant growth in restraint. Coarse herbs 

 almost invariably get the upper hand in such places 

 to the obliteration of lowlier plants, and I saw little 

 to enjoy here except bamboos, Siberian iris, and 

 double lady's smock. It is a place to suit Primula 

 japonica, which, when first brought to this country 

 in 1874 was priced at 30s. a piece, but can now be 

 grown in profusion by scattering the seed in moist 

 places. The original strong crimson of this flower, 

 dangerously near magenta, has broken into a variety 

 of charming tints of pink, cream, and lavender. 



z 185 



