10 General Results of a Gardening Tour : — 



There is a broad walk by the margin of the river, which is 

 remarkably fine ; and the place, when the family shall again 

 reside there, and it be kept in high order, will be one of the 

 first in the west of Scotland. Mr. Skinner, the gardener, is 

 a man of a very superior order of mind, and nothing in the 

 course of our tour gratified us more than to hear the manner 

 in which he spoke of his employer; who, indeed, from his 

 o-eneral character in the county, must be a man of a great and 

 Fiberal mind, and of enlightened benevolence. 



Cap'ijigton Castle has lately received great additions ; and 

 a number of trees have been transplanted in the grounds, 

 according to Sir Henry Steuart's manner; but they are too 

 much dotted instead of being grouped. We were very sorry 

 to find here, that the gardener had recently had his cow taken 

 from him ; and we saw the carpenters at work fitting up his 

 cow-house as a fruit-room, after having, for nearly 25 years, 

 lodged a cow for the same individual, the gardener. What 

 a reward for a faithful servant of 25 years' standing ! 



Most substantial gardening erections, stable offices, and a 

 commodious and handsome gardener's house, have been lately 

 erected at Williamsfield^ by Mrs. Farley, a lady who, as 

 we were informed, possesses great kindness and hberality 

 of disposition. We regretted to see the park spoiled by 

 dotting ; but perhaps it is not yet too late : and if Mr. Cooper, 

 the gardener, a most willing and excellent man, will send us 

 a correct plan of the trees, and other objects, as they now 

 stand, we will return it to him gratis, with corrections. 



The grounds at Loudon Castle are greatly improved, in as 

 far as respects planting and farming ; but the full share of 

 expense and attention does not seem to have been devoted to 

 the kitchen-garden and pleasure-ground, probably from the 

 family seldom or never residing there. 



Eglinton Castle is placed in a dull flat situation, surrounded 

 by abundance of wood, including some very large beeches. 

 There is an extensive kitchen-garden, and many hundred feet 

 of hot-houses ; but, in consequence of the minority of the 

 owner, the grounds are not kept up as they ought to be. 

 There is a gardener's house, all frontage and show, but very 

 small and inconvenient within. 



Ardgotioan is finely situated on a knoll, which has once 

 been the highest point of an island in the Clyde. In the front 

 is a terrace-walk, commanding extensive views; but we do 

 not like the placing of the clumps on the lawn ; because the 

 principle of a su-fficient reason is not obvious. The kitchen- 

 garden is in a low damp situation, and is now undergoing a 

 system of drainage. 



