Garhally Park and Mansio7i. 23 



strong gigantic appearance, and are superior to any I have 

 ever seen in Scotland ; melons succeed best in it in dry sea- 

 sons. There are also two new vine-houses on the pendent 

 trellis system, with peach trees on sloping trellises below. 

 The same fault is here attributed to this system of exposing 

 vines to the sun [as it is only half exposing them)^ as at other 

 places, namely, that the fruit on the lower vines is much in- 

 ferior. This gentleman takes great delight in his garden, 

 and has spared no expense to render these new inventions as 

 complete as possible. Every thing else in this garden bears 

 the stamp of superior management, and reflects great credit 

 on Mr. Smith, the gardener. 



Fernie Castle, the seat of Francis Balfour, Esq., is situated 

 on a plain, and has a fine view of the country before it. There 

 is nothing very remarkable in this garden. The wall is the 

 chief thing that attracts attention, being built of prepared 

 stones of a reddish coloui", in courses, as with brick, and is 

 the best garden wall I ever saw. There are four forcing- 

 houses begun but not yet finished, a flued wall with plenty 

 of training, a good collection of shrubs, and some fine speci- 

 mens of the Scotch pine ; the whole kept below the economic 

 point by Mr. Keir. 



I am preparing a plan of my present situation, and, if agree- 

 able, will send it. [We shall be most happy to receive it, 

 and as many accounts of other gardens as possible. — Cond..'\ 

 I remain. Sir, &c. William Smith. 



Priory, St. Andrew's, Fifeshire, Oct. 27. 1880. 



Art. IV. Description of Garhally Park and Mansion, the Resi- 

 dence of the Earl of Clancarty. By Mr. Andrew Johnston, 

 Gardener there. 



Sir, 



In some of your late publications you expressed a wish to 

 be furnished with general information relative to the pi'incipal 

 residences of the nobility and gentry, or, at least, of such as 

 have not been noticed in any of your former Numbers. From 

 what I have seen of Ireland, I am satisfied there are many 

 places well worthy of notice in your works and in others 

 devoted to rural affairs, which have been either wholly over- 

 looked or misrepresented. 



It is to be regretted that your valuable and interesting cor- 

 respondent Mr. Fraser, whose opportunities of collecting 

 such information are so extensive, has not lately favoured 



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