August 15, 1872. ] 



JOURNAL OP HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



133 



crossing the stream by a bridge at the south end, we pass 

 through a light fence by a small gate, separating the grounds 

 from a large pasturage in which hundreds of sheep are pastured. 

 The next prominent object is Saplin Brae House, leased by 

 Captain Blair, which has altogether a very tasteful and plea- 

 sant appearance. Stately Beeches are studded all over the 

 pleasure ground ; but passing these by, we come to the turn- 

 pike, about a mile further westward than the point at which 

 we entered. Almost directly opposite is the kitchen garden. 

 Before entering it, however, I must observe that from this 

 spot a glorious prospect bursts upon the eye — that of the 

 luxuriant valley of Deer. The view to the south is pleasing. 

 There is a hollow through which a stream takes a serpentine 

 course ; and beyond, on a gentle eminence, is situated the 

 ancient village of Old Deer, which contains but few houses, but 

 these are neat, and the whole is surrounded by beautiful 



plantations and large spreading trees. The soft and hilly 

 slopes ascending in the background, with their varied outline 

 and wood-clad summits, have a very picturesque appearance. 

 Aden House, with its surrounding plantations, is just visible 

 to the east ; and to the west is a fertile country, the most con- 

 spicuous part of which is Aikey Brae, where Robert Bruce 

 defeated Comyn, Earl of Buchan, in a stoutly-contested battle. 

 The whole district is dotted with clumps of trees, and presents 

 an appearance of superior cultivation, being laid-out in farms 

 of from seventy to two hundred acres, with small crofts here 

 and there. 



The kitchen garden (see page 134) , stands on the south side 

 of the turnpike, descending to the north bank of the river 

 Ugie, and is sheltered from the north and north-east by the 

 beautiful old timber covering Saplin Brae, which rises abruptly 

 from the north side of the turnpike. The garden is surrounded! 



TOLVCHEOME GARDEN AT PITFOUH. 



1, Bed of shrubs, centre a large 

 vase. The other circles are 

 also planted with Bhrubs and 

 other plants. 



2, Grass verge. 



3, Beds of shrubs. 



4, "Verge of grass. 



5, Broken slate. 



6, Verge of grass. 



7, Broken bricks. 



S, Grass, Grecian pattern. 

 9, Grass border. 



10, Gravel walk. 



11, White stones. 



12, White stones, broken about the 



size of a hen's eg". 



by substantial stone walls, with an efficient coping, 18 feet 

 high on the north side, 14 feet high on the east and west 

 sides, and 12 feet high on the south. The area enclosed is 

 upwards of four imperial acres. Orginally the extent of this 

 garden was more than nine acres. It was laid out about the 

 beginning of the present century, and has ever since held a 

 high position amongst gentlemen's gardens in the north. It 

 is in the form of an irregular quadrilateral figure, laid out in 

 seven plots, as will be seen from the accompanying plan. 



A range of glass houses, over 350 feet long, and varying from 

 20 to 12 feet wide, extends along part of the north wall, and 

 these I visited first. The greenhouse, which stands with its 

 gable to the north wall, is 26 feet long by 20 feet wide, with 

 centre and side stages. On the centre stage I observed a 

 good plant of the Double 'White Camellia, as also a collection 

 of choice Fuchsias, mostly pyramid-trained, ranging from 

 2 to 7 feet high. Among the Coleuses were excellent plants of 

 the newest varieties, with the leaves well coloured. There are 

 also on this stage some good greenhouse plants. On the side 



stages were thirty choice varieties of Tricolor Geraniums, 

 Some were trained as pyramids, some as half-globes, and 

 others in the round table shape ; all were highly coloured. 

 The diameter of the plants ranged up to 2i feet. Of other 

 varieties, such as double Geraniums and the Zonal section, 

 there was also a choice collection. Ferns were well repre- 

 sented, and in the best of health ; there were also some good 

 specimens of young Heaths in flower. 



Leaving the greenhouse by a door in the east side, we enter 

 the stove, 32 feet long by 12 feet wide ; it is fitted up with 

 side stages. The back wall is covered with climbers, such as 

 AUamanda nobilis, Euphorbia jaequinia3flora ; and on the back 

 stage is a good plant of Clerodendron Balfourii, trained in the 

 pyramid shape on a wire frame. Of Caladiums there is; a 

 collection of well-grown plants, including such as C. argyrites, 

 C. Chantinii, C. psecile, C. Belleymei, C. Houlletii, C. pictu- 

 ratum, and C. Wightii. I observed some healthy clean-grown 

 plants, and although young, promising well. Amongst these 

 were Maranta regalis, M. Yeitchii, M. zebrina, M. roseo-lineata 



