SJcetch of a Visit to Allanton. 15 



branch put into the earth takes root; and acacias and robinias, 

 raised from seed, were, the second year, nearly 5 ft. high. 



The cultivation of the olive, the vine, and the mulberry ap- 

 pears to prosper in this climate ; but they are only of the most 

 inferior quality, whatever has been the trouble bestowed by go- 

 vernment upon them. The wine hills about Sebenico, Almissa, 

 Macarsca, and the islands, afford, without any care, fine power- 

 ful wines of all kinds and colours ; but a fifth of the crop is 

 annually spoiled from neglect of using proper measures to pre- 

 serve it; and, from the same cause, there is scarcely any wine of 

 more than a year old. It does not enter into the object of this 

 article, to indicate the means of making Dalmatia once more the 

 paradise which it appears to have been in the time that Diocletian 

 would not exchange it for the most beautiful parts of Italy, and 

 which, at present, its lovely climate, more than its inhabitants, 

 qualify it to become once more. 



I have fulfilled my task, if this little sketch should animate 

 others to closer researches in this interesting country. 



Zara in Dalmatia^ December^ 1829. 



Art. til A slight SJcetch of a Visit to Allanto7i, the Seat of the late 

 Sir Henry Steuart, and notv in Possession of his Daughter, Lady 

 Macdonald Steuart. By W. A. Nesfield, Esq. 



On approaching Allanton from Lanark, the general surface 

 of the country is undulating, with extensive young plantations, 

 which are principally on the high grounds. Mature trees are 

 but thinly scattered in hedgerows ; so that, previously to modern 

 improvement, this neighbourhood must have been very naked, 

 and particularly uninteresting, since there are no bold features 

 in the distances, although they are hilly. There are two ap- 

 proaches to Allanton : one from the west, on the Lanark road ; 

 and another from the east, on the Edinburgh and Ayr road. 

 On the outside of the west lodge (which stands back in a recess 

 several yards) appear the first specimens of transplanted trees. 

 These, being open to the public road, give considerable interest 

 to the entrance, and every candid person must admit the impres- 

 sion to be highly favourable : and he who is inclined to be 

 sceptical as to the result of the practical, as well as the theo- 

 retical, knowledge of the late Sir Henry Steuart, should, before 

 he ventures to pass an opinion, go and witness the living proofs 

 of his success ; and it is impossible that he can return otherwise 

 than full of admiration and enthusiasm. Indeed, as to the plant- 

 ing generally, the extremely vigorous state of the trees absolutely 

 sets criticism at defiance ; although, relatively to picturesque ar- 

 rangement, it cannot but be regretted that there are a few over- 



