THE 



GARDENER'S MAGAZINE, 



NOVEMBER, 1834. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Observations made during a Horticultural Tour through the 

 Eastern Part of the County of Fife. By Mr. William Smith, 

 Gardener to John Small, Esq., the Priory, St. Andrew's, Fifeshire. 



Having recently made a horticultural journey round the eastern 

 extremity of the county of Fife (or the East Nook, as it is com- 

 monly called), in company with a neighbouring gardener, we 

 agreed that a detailed account of what came under our observ- 

 ation would not be unacceptable to you for insertion in your 

 Magazine, and especially to your readers in this quarter, who 

 are acquainted with the places at which we called. Through 

 the great kindness of our employers, we were each supplied 

 with a horse ; and we may remark, that such liberal conduct on 

 the part of masters cannot fail to gain the willing obedience, 

 diligence, and gratitude of their servants in return. Leaving 

 St. Andrew's in the morning, we proceeded along the coast on 

 the Crail road : the country on each side is almost regularly 

 studded with compact modern farm-steadings ; the fields are 

 well enclosed, either with stone walls or with thorn hedges. 

 The farmers in this country generally prefer the former, as not 

 harbouring birds, &c. ; but stone walls, when combined with a 

 great want of detached trees, and also of plantations, give to any 

 country, however well cultivated, a bare and barren appearance. 

 On approaching the residence of Mr. Glass of Smiddy Green, 

 the country begins to assume a better appearance, both in stripes 

 and masses of plantation. The mansion-house of Smiddy Green 

 is beautifully situated on the top of a steep bank, covered with 

 shrubs and trees ; but, from the road, it has the appearance of 

 being buried among them ; and a judicious thinning is required 

 to give the traveller, at least, a glimmering view of it. A little 

 farther on commence the grounds of Lord Pitmilly, formerly 

 a judge of the Court of Session. Walls, hedges, hedgerow 

 trees, and plantations are here to be seen in great variety ; and 

 in the park are some very large beeches and other kinds of trees, 

 Vol. X. — No. 56. pp 



