the Eastern Part of Fife. 529 



were good crops of grapes, especially of the Black Hamburgh. 

 Here we observed, as well as at other places, that incurable dis- 

 ease called the damping or shriveling of the footstalks of the 

 berries and bunches, notwithstanding what has lately been 

 written in this Magazine. Mr. J. D. P. says that the cause is 

 cold damp air, and the cure plenty of fire heat. We are also 

 strong advocates for plenty of heat, air, and water: our opinion, 

 however, is, that the evil is not contained in the atmosphere of 

 the house at all ; but is a defect of the roots of the vine, and a 

 want of proper nourishment; for every gardener knows that the 

 disease first shows itself when the greatest demand is made upon 

 the roots by the crop ; and if it be a heavy one, the greater is 

 the disease. In our opinion, the best way to cure the disease, 

 or, at least, to lessen the evil, is to keep the vine border well 

 mulched until the fruit is fully swelled, and then lightly to fork 

 up the surface of the border. We would also thin well the 

 bunches ; give plenty of heat, air, and water ; and not allow the 

 vine to bear too large a crop. Leaving the hot-houses, we en- 

 tered another small flower-garden, in which are some clipped 

 yews of various figures, and some fancy seats. The mansion- 

 house is situated on an eminence a considerable distance from 

 the gardens ; and the views from it are most delightful. A fine 

 smooth spacious lawn lies in front, with a finely undulating sur- 

 face of park, adorned with clumps of trees. The beautiful Forth, 

 with its islands and rocks, North Berwick Law, and the Lothians 

 in the distance, terminate the scene. When the planting and 

 building about this place are finished, it will be one of the best 

 in this quarter of the country. 



About a mile to the west of Grangemoor is Balcaskie, the 

 seat of Sir Ralph Anstruther, Bart. ; a fine old place, with the 

 gardens in the ancient terraced style. The house has under- 

 gone extensive repairs and alterations in its former style of 

 architecture. The lawn in front is in the form of a parallelo- 

 gram, divided in three parts by broad holly hedges, neatly 

 squared up. In the eastern division is a well laid out modern 

 flower-garden ; a great number of small figures forming one large 

 one, with a dial in the centre. This garden was well stocked 

 with the most rare hardy plants, creepers, &c. In the middle 

 and western divisions are some most magnificent laurustinuses, 

 the largest we have seen in Scotland ; and these, with the fine 

 breadth of lawn between them, we should have greatly preferred 

 to any cutting or carving whatever on the grass of beds for 

 flowers. On the west wall were some ornamental vases with 

 flowers and ornamental plants. The next terrace is a kitchen- 

 garden ; and the lowest of all, a kitchen-garden and orchard. 

 Here were some fig trees bearing good crops. These two last- 

 mentioned gardens are sadly dilapidated by the hand of time ; 



p p 3 



