November 1, 1877. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



347 



way to have " just one look " before going in. In the morn- 

 ing the first sight which met my eyes was a Pinus inaignis full 

 80 feet high in perfect health, and no unworthy rival of the 

 Lamorran trees, standing right before my bedroom window 

 upon a Bteep grassy slope running from the terraoe bounding 

 two sides of the Castle down to the bottom of a glen which 

 interseots the crescent, not detracting from but rather con- 

 tributing to the grace and beauty of the general effect, while 

 forming in itself a disiinct and striking feature. There are 

 other fine trees near the insignis, over which I looked on to the 

 farther side of the glen, all clothed with a dense growth of 

 deciduous trees, and with just a few picturesque old Scotch 

 Firs upon the highest point of the slope, imparting a finish 

 and character to the scene so unique that with the sense of 

 admiration came the more uncommon one of luxurious enjoy- 

 ment. Such depths of shadow among the trees, such a play of 



light among the branches, as the rays of the rising sun glinted 

 down among them ! It was one of those clear bright morn- 

 ings which come to us as summer lingers upon the threshold 

 of autumn, and which always seems to me a fitting type of 

 the calm bright happiness that soothes the declining years of 

 a well-spent life ; and as I threw up my window to enjoy the 

 fair scene fully, up from among the trees came an intermittent 

 cooing of doves, breathing of security, contentment, and peace. 

 A closer inspection of the whole of the grounds and gardens 

 strengthened the agreeable impression to which this first view 

 gave rise. I found much to admire — ample variety, many fine 

 and distinot features, with an unity of tone and connection in 

 every part; abundance of fine timber, flourishing speoimens 

 of many Conifers, flowering shrubs well represented and pre- 

 senting themselves in that pleasant guise always attendant 

 upon taBteful arrangement combined with healthy growth ; a 



good collection of climbing plants, beds and borders well filled 

 with flowers in great beauty, and in the kitchen garden an 

 abundant supply of vegetables and fruit, successional orops all 

 in capital order and condition, reflecting much credit upon 

 Mr. Edwards the able gardener, who evidently has his charge 

 thoroughly well in hand. 



The terrace is, of course, the most important feature of the 

 gardens close by the Castle. It starts from a level expanse on 

 the carriage front, and is continued along the south and east 

 sides of the building, overlooking most of the scenery to whioh 

 I have alluded. The abrupt descent of the slopes from the 

 south terrace renders its retaining wall a high one, which has 

 been turned to account by clothing it with a collection of 

 thriving climbing plants, including most familiar with the 

 more uncommon kinds of Myrtle, Pomegranates, Solanum 

 jasminoides, vigorous, healthy, and very ornamental ; as was 

 also a large Mandevilla suaveolene that has climbed right on 

 to the top of the wall, hard by an almost equally vigorous ex- 

 ample of the sweet-scented Clematis flammula bearing a 

 cloud of its pretty flowers. Magnolia grandiflora was also 

 well represented by several large specimens both here and 

 upon the Castle itself, all of them remarkable for the large 

 Bize of the deep green glossy foliage clothing every part of 

 the sturdy branches. A ribbon border running along the foot 

 of the terrace wall gay with summer flowers contained an un- 

 common and very attractive feature in a broad back row of 



Lilium speciosumrubrnm, or roseum, just bursting into flower, 

 and which would thus serve to impart a freshness — a kind of 

 autumnal beauty, to the border that is desirable and worthy 

 of imitation. *! 



From the east terrace a lawn slopes gently outwards to the 

 crest of the hill which sweeps upwards to it from the river, all 

 covered with timber and an undergrowth of Rhododendrons. 

 The outward boundary of the lawn is a low belt of shrubs 

 composed entirely of choice flowering kinds, imparting bright- 

 ness and variety at all seasons of the year, and which in 

 spring and early summer must form a gay floral fringe that is 

 in charming contrast to the dense foliage of the tree tops 

 below. This lawn imparts dignity to the adjacent buildings 

 and an air of repose, but not quite in the telling manner it 

 would do if its somewhat stiff formal semicircular outlines 

 were softened into more graceful flowing curves, and three or 

 four flower beds now dotted upon its centre were turfed over. 

 It is true that these faults are quite of minor importance, yet 

 where all else is so superior one does not like to see a single 

 blemish; nor are theBe likely to remain unaltered, for a con- 

 servatory in course of construction close by betokens a spirit 

 of progress and desire for improvement. 



Retirement, seclusion, and pleasant shade abound in the 

 numerous paths winding among the trees from the terrace 

 along the slopes down to the river. As we go down flourishing 

 examples of Oak, Chestnut, and Reech are seen on all sides, 



