90 
JOURNAL OF HORTWUL1URE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ January 23, 1885. 
root cuttings they revert to the original single varieties, being what is 
termed ‘ bud sports.’ This is incorrect. They can be propagated by root 
cuttings the same as any of the single kinds, and thb flowers be just as 
double as when propagated by cuttings made from the shoots. Grown 
with plenty of light and heat the double kinds are grand acquisitions, but 
in a cool moist temperature they are apt to be decayed in the centre of 
the flower before the truss is nearly open.” 
-Rose Perle des Jardins. —Although a very beautiful Rose, 
the Marechal Niel is no longer the yellow Rose of commerce. In 
looking through several large commercial Rose-growing establishments 
last summer I was surprised to find this once universal favourite so 
sparingly cultivated, and the few specimens I did meet with were 
retained, I think, more for propagating purposes than for blooms. The 
late Mr. Ellwanger, in his book of Roses, says, “the inexperienced would 
do better not to attempt its culture.” The continued demand for plants 
of Mar6chal Niel is largely due to the fact that buds of the Perle des 
Jardins are supplied to customers for Marechal Niel by most of the 
city florists. For three monthly Roses there are no better varieties than 
Catherine Mermet, Niphetos, and Perle des Jardins. By all means plant in 
natural border, if possible, in preference to pot culture. If quick as well 
as satisfactory results are desired, a good plan would be to plant three 
plants of Solfaterre, a vigorous-growing Noisette, and bud with the 
varieties mentioned. Flowers from the budded plants will be larger and 
finer than on their own roots.— Levant Cole (in Vick's Magazine). 
IN SCOTLAND. 
SCONE PALACE. 
Following the course of the River Tay northward from Perth about 
two miles and a half one of the most classical estates in the district is reached 
—the famed historical Scone Palace, which has been for so many years the 
residence of the Earls of Mansfield. The Valley of the Tay in either 
direction from Perth is very beautiful, not perhaps of the typical northern 
character, but possessing that quiet charm imparted by tree-clad banks 
and verdant expanses of turf on each side of a broad handsome river, 
with the bolder features of higher elevations in the distance. In several 
places near the town the banks are dotted with neat suburban villas, but 
when the princely estate at Scone is approached we have a union of the 
natural attractions with numerous others created or developed by the art 
of the gardener. 
Scone is particularly rich in trees, and within its policies are included 
many of the finest examples of their respective kinds to be seen in 
Scotland, and it is to these it owes much of its beauty. The history of 
the estate dates far back into ages, respecting which few records exist ; 
but it appears probable that it was in the possession of the Pictish kings 
over one thousand years ago, and was then employed by them as their prin¬ 
cipal residence. It is, however, quite certain that until the thirteenth cen¬ 
tury Scone was a Royal palace and place of coronation for the rulers of 
the country, and that until an even later period Parliaments met there to 
transact business. The celebrated Stone of Destiny was long among the 
treasures of Scone, and was URed as the seat of the kings at their coro¬ 
nation until it was transferred to Westminster, where it has been undis¬ 
turbed since, and appears to have finished the travels it is said to have 
had. Tradition relates that it formed Jacob’s pillow at Luz ; that it 
passed thence to Syria, Egypt, Spain, and Ireland, and finally found a 
resting place at Scone. Some very unromantic people, however, assert 
that it was quarried in the neighbourhood of Perth. There was also an 
abbey at Scone at a very early period, but scarcely any traces of this re¬ 
main. The present family have been the occupiers of Scone for many 
years, though the title Earl of Mansfield was not bestowed until the 
eighteenth century, and trace their lineage to one of the oldest families in 
Scotland, numerous members having held important posts, and taken a 
prominent part in public affairs. 
The present Palace (fig. 16) is a noble and extensive building, well 
fitting the antiquities and glories of Scone. It is beautifully situated in 
a park of magnificent trees, many of which are monuments of past ages. 
Several of these are especial interest, particularly an old Cherry tree (seen 
at the left of the Palace in the woodcut), which is said to be the remains of 
an orchard attached to the Abbey. It is a large tree, but the upper portion 
seems dead, and very little vitality remains in the lower branches. The 
fruits are described as small and of little value, and Mr. McKinnon thinks 
it is one of the Gean varieties, which have been derived from Cerasus 
avium. The tree is a very interesting one, as it is unquestionably of 
great age. Another historical tree is Queen Mary’s Sycamore (fig. 15, 
from Mr. Hunter’s “ Woods and Forests of Perthshire ”). It is a fine 
specimen, over 60 feet high, and well developed, deriving its name from 
the fact that it was planted by Queen Mary. Numerous other deciduous 
and evergreen trees in the neighbourhood of the Palace are noticeable, 
the Oaks being uncommonly beautiful, while the choice exotic Conifers 
thrive as if they were in their native land. 
THE PINETUM. 
The collection of Conifers is an extremely large one, and the trees are 
nearly all of unusual size, and the majority are in the most vigorous 
health, Abies Douglasii is grandly represented by abundant specimens, 
one which was raised from the first seed sent home by its discoverer, is 
now 75 feet high—a most remarkable memento of the unfortunate collector 
whose name it bears. David Douglas, to whom horticulturists owe eo 
many valuable introductions, was a native of Scone, and served seven 
years’ apprenticeship in the gardens attached to the Palace, there acquir¬ 
ing the preliminary knowledge of plants, which with his subsequent 
experience at Valleyfield and in the Glasgow Botanic Gardens enabled 
him to become collector for the London Horticultural Society. He 
undertook several journeys to America, and it was in that to the Columbia 
River in 1824 that the Abies named above was discovered together with 
Pinus ponderosa and P. Lambertiana. In the 1829 journey Abies nobilis 
and A. Menziesi, both fine species, were found with others, but it is the 
general opinion that the grandest of Douglas’s introductions is Abies 
nobilis, and he says that though he spent three weeks in a forest com¬ 
posed of it he “ day by day could not cease to admire it.” It is unques¬ 
tionably a handsome species, and in no garden have I seen so many fine 
examples of it as at Scone. There are several 40 to 50 feet high, but one 
of especial beauty is 64 feet high, surpassing the celebrated specimen at 
Highnam Court, Gloucester, which is 60 feet high. The Scone trees, too, 
are remarkable for their even development, and when this Conifer is 
seen in its prime its symmetry without any approach to the rigidity or 
formality of some species is very striking ; the glaucous colour of the 
foliage is also an additional attraction, while the cones are unsurpassed 
in beauty by any of its relatives. Abies Menziesi is represented by 
several equally fine specimens ; A. Nordmanniana and A. Albertiana, 30 
to 40 feet high, are good trees ; Pinus Monticola, 62 feet high, is believed 
Fig. 15.—Queen Mary’s Sycamore. 
to be the best specimen of this Pine in Scotland ; Cupressus nutkaensis, 
as I have already noted in other gardens, thrives well; Irish Yews are 
prosperous, and Wellingtonias grow vigorously ; but Deodars are not quite 
satisfactory, and Araucar’as occasionally suffer in severe winters. Some 
smaller plants of Abies Engelmanni glauca and A. concolor are very 
beautiful, especially the former, of which the glaucous tint is so marked, 
that it appears to have been silvered over the leaves. Amongst the 
deciduous tree3 some specimen Golden Ash 40 feet and more in height 
are extremely fine, while the Copper Beeches are of unrivalled beauty, an 
avenue being formed of them in one portion of the estate, and is probably 
unique. We might extend our wanderings amongst these trees with 
advantage, for they are numerous and beautiful in no ordinary degree ; 
but the gardens demand a few notes, and to them we must now turn our 
attention. 
FRUIT AND KITCHEN GARDEN. 
Vines, Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs are the principal indoor fruits 
grown at Scone, and these are cultivated thoroughly, very large supplies 
of these fruits being produced from the several ranges devoted to them. 
Most of the houses have been erected in recent years upon the most 
approved modern principles, the borders having also been very carefully 
prepared. The Grapes are a strong feature, all the best varieties being 
included and most successfully treated. Black Hamburgh, Muscat of 
Alexandria, Gros Colman, Gro3 Guillaume, Alnwick Seedling, Lady 
Downe’s, Alicante, and Mill Hill Hamburgh are the chief favourites ; but 
Alnwick Seedling is not found to set very satisfactorily. Gros Colman 
was bearing some extremely large bunches and berries at the time of my 
visit; Lady Downe’s and Alicante were also most promising and co’ouring 
superbly. Of Peaobes, Lord Palmerston, Lite Admirable, and Royal 
George had been bearing well, and still had some handsome fruits of great 
size, Grosse Mignonne being similarly fine, while Humboldt and Pitmaston 
Orange Nectarines bear freely and are much liked. The principal ranges 
are in divisions of 50 feet each; but there is one remarkable Peach and 
Fig house, 174 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 16 feet high at the back—a good 
structure, except that it is scarcely provided with sufficient means of 
