December 4, 1884. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
507 
of the roughei* and stronger-growing plants exclude altogether 
small and rare Alpines. In two places, one of which is dignified 
with a natural waterfall, a very good attempt is made to imitate 
the different strata or formations, and which is used for wall or 
trailing plants.—M. S. 
IN SCOTLAND. 
During September of the present year a long-wished-For opportunity 
was aiforded me to visit the “ Land o’ Cakes ” to see a few of its celebrated 
gardens, to view some portions of its most beautiful scenery, and to realise 
the imaginations which its history had excited in more youthful days. 
The anticipation of such a journey had yielded many pleasant thoughts 
attempt to again pourtray its beauties, suffice it that not one word too 
much has been written in its praise. Charmingly situated, with every 
department of the garden as near perfection as the highest skill and most 
careful thought can render it, no one can visit Drumlanrig without being 
greatly impressed by its lordly dignity and its excellent keeping. My 
visit was a hasty one, but by the kindness of Mr. David Thomson I was 
enabled to see all the chief points of interest, and to carry away many 
pleasant memories. 
Proceeding from Thornhill early in the afternoon to busy Glasgow, 
and thence to historic Stirling, I completed the second stage of my 
journey at Bridge of Allan sufficiently early to enjoy a lengthened 
and interesting conversation on orchidic subjects with my esteemed host 
Dr. A. Paterson, whose name is familiar to readers of this Journal 
as one of the most distinguished orchidists in the north. The following 
Fig. 86.—OnoNTOGLOSSUit Alexandb^: at Febnfield. 
for several years, but a busy life had not until the present season allowed 
sufficient leisure to carry the desire into execution. As with many others 
connected with horticulture, my route northwards was determined by the 
International Exhibition at Dundee, and by starting a week in advance 
of this event I was enabled to combine a considerable amount of business 
with pleasure, which was still further increased by extending the duration 
of my stay until the Edinburgh Show in the following week. This enabled 
me to visit several establishments, concerning which a few jottings may 
not be without interest to southern readers of this Journal. 
The route selected was the Midland line to Carlisle, and thence by the 
North British via Dumfries to Glasgow. The latter was chosen to include 
Drumlanrig in the outward journey, that being a fitting starting point for 
a tour amongst Scotch gardens. This magnificent establishment has, 
however, been so frequently described in these pages that I will not 
morning I inspected the collection which has gained so wide a fame, and 
a few observations upon the method of treatment at Femfield will serve 
to show how this has been obtained. 
ORCHIDS AT FERNFIELD. 
Almost every class of plants has its especial admirers who consider 
their favourites as supreme in floral attractions, though nearly all form 
different standards of perfection. The Rose, the Carnation, and the 
Chrysanthemum are examples of flowers each of which has a considerable 
army of devoted adherents, and to these must now be added the Orchids, 
which are fast emerging from the state of aristocratic seclusion in which 
they have long remained, and are more distinctly popular than they ever 
have been. They have been regarded as the luxuries of the wealthy, but 
extensive importations have reduced the prices of many very beautiful 
