Tullyallan Castle. 589 



Institution has been greatly diminished. The Botanic Garden 

 contains also a horticultural collection, so that the inhabitants of 

 this part of the country have an opportunity of seeing the best 

 kinds of culinary vegetables and fruits, as well as a named col- 

 lection of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. Mr. Westwood, 

 the curator of the garden, a most intelligent man, informed us 

 that, to secure the means of supporting it properly, he was 

 obliged to turn great part of it into a nursery. In consequence 

 of the facilities afforded by the Institution of procuring a good 

 education at a moderate expense, many houses have been erected 

 in the neighbourhood by persons of moderate fortunes, attracted 

 by its educational advantages, and landed property has in con- 

 sequence been greatly increased in value. 



The Villa of Dr. Walker, in the neighbourhood of Dollar, we 

 found one of the best laid out and highest kept places in Scot- 

 land ; ranking in these respects with Crosslee Cottage. The art 

 of growing low alpine plants on cones and hemispheres of pebbles 

 is here carried to the highest degree of perfection ; and it is dif- 

 ficult to imagine how much beauty and effect is thus produced 

 by the saxifrages, sedums, thymes, the minor campanulas, and 

 such like plants. Each cone or hemisphere is kept quite distinct, 

 and they are displayed to most advantage when standing on a 

 lawn or on a flooring of pebbles. They look well, however, on 

 common borders. Ceanothus azureus stands the winter here 

 without protection ; and, though the place only contains two or 

 three acres of pleasure-ground, yet, by not planting more than 

 one or two plants of any one species or variety, the collection of 

 trees and shrubs is so considerable, that it includes all the species 

 procurable in the Edinburgh nurseries, and many procured from 

 London. 



7ullyalla?i Castle, Count Flahault, is an extensive and 

 splendid place, remarkable for a terraced garden on a large 

 scale, with parapets, statues, vases, &c, in the Italian style. 

 This garden was laid out, as we were informed, from the designs 

 of Baroness Keith. Adjoining it there is some very interesting 

 scenery arranged in the natural manner, and richly stocked with 

 rhododendrons, and other American trees and shrubs. Our 

 time would only admit of our taking a hurried view of the place, 

 but it has left the impression in our minds of being among the 

 finest we saw during our tour. The house is a castellated build- 

 ing, but the towers and chimney tops want elevation and relief; 

 instead of being bold and free, they are too tame and lumpish. 



The inn at Kincardine is a very indifferent one; we pointed 

 out various defects to the landlord and landlady which might 

 very easily be remedied, and they promised that this should be 

 done. 



Aug. 8. — Kincardine, by Culross and Valley field, to Stirling. 

 We shall not attempt to describe the bold and varied scenery 



