August 8, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



115 



These fresh shoots are in their turn pinched at the second 

 leaf, leaves and growing point as well, and the consequence is 

 the base of the shoot becomes swollen and wrinkled, and soon 

 the buds are developed as shown in jig. 3. Most frequently 

 this only occurs at the third leaf. 



Buds of a very vigorous character, which would have pro- 

 duced premature shoots of a very undesirable nature, are not 

 always converted into triple buds ; but by the method of pinch- 

 ing described they become small fruiting branches bearing fruit 

 buds towards their extremities, and good wood buds at their 

 base. The latter produce in the succeeding year succession 

 shoots, whilst the upper part may bear fruit (see Jig. 4). 

 When, on its first appearance, all the leaves of a young shoot 

 are pinched, as at E,jig. 1, the shoot undergoes a still greater 

 change. 



M. Grin's system of pinching is not only easy of execution, 

 but it is in accordance with scientific theories on the flow 

 of the sap. Practically it amounts to this : Pinch or cut-in 

 half the first leaves of the young shoot as soon as they appear', 

 in order to establish and encourage the growth of a bud which 

 is at their base, then when the shoot has grown to the length 

 desired for the fruit branches pinch the last-formed leaves 

 and the growing point ; treat the secondary shoots or laterals 

 in the same way, and if necessary cut some of them away. 



By this mode of proceeding the production of fruit and suc- 

 cession shoots is rendered a certainty, and pruning is confined 

 to cutting off anything likely to cause confusion in the tree, 

 occasionally cutting back spurs, and, if needful, laying in here 

 and there some branches to preserve the uniformity of the tree. 

 — E. A. Carriere (in Revue Horticole). 



PITFOUB, The Seat of Colonel Ferguson.— No. 1. 



About a mile to the north of the ancient village, and about I the fertile Buchan district, is Pitfour, the mansion, gardens, 

 thirty-two miles from the city of Aberdeen, in the centre of | and pleasure grounds of winch take a high position. Before- 



Pitfour House. 



entering into other details, however, let me give a short sketch 

 of its history, much of which is obscure. 



The first possessor named in history is Fergus Earl of 

 Buchan, in the twelfth century. His only child, Marjory or 

 Margaret, after his death became Countess in her own right, 

 and in 1210 married William Comyn, son of Richard Comyn, 

 who at that time acted as Justiciary of Scotland, and who 

 by this alliance acquired the earldom. The Comyns fought 

 bitterly against Robert Bruce, who routed them, and then- 

 estates were escheated to the Crown. Subsequently Pitfour 

 passed to George, Earl Marischal, and continued the property 

 of his successors until the time of the George, Earl Marischal, 

 who engaged in the rebellion of 1715, when it was confiscated 

 by the Crown. It was afterwards sold, and again purchased by 

 George, Earl Marischal, a son of the attainted Earl, in 1761. 

 It was again sold in 1764 to James Ferguson, a Senator of the 

 College of Justice, in whose family it has since continued. 



On reaching the Mintlaw station, and passing along the 

 Banff and Peterhead turnpike in a westerly direction, to the 

 left is a flat plain of arable land laid out in tasteful crofts, 



clumps of trees covering the slight eminences at the back- 

 ground. Passing an entrance lodge to the Aden policies, and 

 leaving the Aden woods which- skirt the road on the left, the 

 visitor is confronted by two entrance lodges to Pitfour, one 

 forming an entrance from the south, the other from the west. 

 Entering by the south lodge, a long stretch of carriage-drive 

 winds now under lofty trees, now through the open park, and 

 passes along the side of the artificial lake, which covers an 

 area of upwards of forty-five acres, and was formed by daniming 

 back the rivulet which flowed in the bottom of the valley. It 

 is crossed by two stone bridges, that leading to the house 

 being a magnificent granite structure of three arches. Here 

 and there through the openings an obscure view of the mansion 

 is obtained ; but on journeying onward and passing the trees 

 which shroud it, when it comes fairly into view it creates a 

 feeling of its importance, and compels one to admire the good 

 taste with which its site was chosen. 



The mansion, of which the accompanying is a view, is built 

 partly in the Grecian style of architecture. A row of stately 

 Corinthian pillars surmounted by a costly conservatory. 



