Balhomie Castle 251 



Buds of these pears were given to me, about seven years 

 ago, by Mr. Louis Stoffells of Malines. The fruit has been 

 exhibited at meetings of the H. S. Those now sent to you 

 grew against a N.W. wall at my cottage, Thames Ditton. If 

 you find either of these pears worth notice, mention it in your 

 next number. Very respectfully, I am, 



My dear Sir, &c. 



Boughton Mount, ^John Braddick. 



Maidstone, 8th April. 



Art. III. Dalhousie Castle Sr Gardens ; theBotany of tJie Neigh- 

 bourhood, and various Remarks. By Mr. Joseph A rchibald, 

 CM. H.S., upwards of Nineteen Years Gardener there. 



Dear Sir, 



I have taken the liberty of sending you a few observations, 

 made during my residence at Dalhousie Castle. If you con- 

 sider them deserving a place in your excellent miscellany, 

 the " Gardener's Magazine," it will be very gratifying to me 

 to have contributed in the least possible way to the usefulness 

 of such an interesting work. 



Dalhousie Castle, one of the seats of the Right Honourable 

 the Earl of Dalhousie, is situated about eight miles south-east 

 from Edinburgh; two miles from Dalkeith, and the like 

 distance from Lasswade. It is a very ancient structure, the 

 date of its erection not being, I believe, correctly known. A 

 large addition, and considerable alterations, were made tan 

 years ago, and it is intended to commence the building of a 

 new front to the north, this summer. It is delightfully situated 

 on the north bank of the South Esk, the scenery is very ro- 

 mantic and varied, the rocky banks of the river being adorned 

 with natural oak, &c. The principal approach from the north 

 was laid out, about twenty years ago, by the late Mr. Walter 

 Nicol ; a great improvement in it is proposed at the main 

 entrance, by bringing the carriage-road over a small brook, 

 and through part of a plantation. It is also intended to ex- 

 tend the approach from the south, to about one-fourth of a mile 

 to the southward, as soon as the public road can be removed 

 to the westward. By this means, a very fine bridge of three 

 arches will be included in the pleasure-grounds. 



Since I entered his lordship's service in 1807, nearly two 

 hundred acres have been planted ; partly in belts, for shelter 

 on the high grounds ; but the greater part for ornament, 

 and cover for game. Some of the banks of plantation near the 

 Castle, planted about thirty years ago, are now being converted 

 into oak coppices. 



Vol. I. No. 3. t 



