to the necessities of the ground, on the flat, as our own Walled 
kitchen gardens are. They are often very large; sometimes Gardens 
a sparkling brown burn runs through the middle; sometimes 
a small orchard carpeted with grass is enclosed, or a delightful 
garden-house is found to terminate the centre walk; Irish 
Yews may form an avenue down the middle, or be set square in 
the centre, or quaint hedges of cut Laurel divide the garden into 
squares. They may be found also of any shape, square or 
oblong or occasionally round. ‘The most picturesque to my 
mind are those where the wall follows the natural lie of the 
land, and does not enclose the whole garden, being built, 
sometimes in the form of a large semi-circle from which the 
ground falls quickly to the river below, and rises above it to 
wood-crowned hills. Such a position as this gives ample scope 
for picture planting, as a choice of background is always 
available. 
The sketch at Kirkhill shows one example of the effects 
which such a picturesque garden may possess. The path starts 
on the level, and then disappears down the steep slope of the 
hill to where at the bottom of the glen the Esk is swirling 
round rocks clad in green velvet moss, or forming deep brown 
pools in which the steep bank of the further side, with its 
undergrowth of fern and bracken, is reflected. The flowers 
which border the path gain immensely in effect by being 
silhouetted against the distant trees. What opportunities again 
for Wild Gardens such banks of the river afford, with all the 
shelter of slope and garden wall above them | 
At Barskimming, of which unfortunately I have no 
sketch, though it is full of pictures, the garden is level for a 
space with wide grass paths, a sundial or a stone vase stands 
H SF 
