628 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ December 11, 1884. 
this terrible disease this season than for some years past. There can be 
no question that the plants suftered at their roots by drought during the 
hot dry summer weather which we have had. For some years I have 
been interested in the cause and prevention of mildew, and this season I 
have made two or three journeys and have conducted a few experiments at 
home for the purpose of fully testing previous convictions. From past 
observations, and if I have judged rightly this year, plants growing upon 
heavy land with a subsoil of clay have been attacked worse than those 
upon lighter and more porous soils. Heavy soils during hot dry weather 
become so thoroughly baked that they crack, and the moisture is evaporated 
to a much more serious extent than can possibly be the case on lighter 
soils. Dryness at the roots is a certain cause of mildew, and how this can 
be prevented without an enormous amount of labour I am not in a posi¬ 
tion to detail. Sulphur and all the mildew annihilators would prove of 
no avail in arresting its progress or freeing the plants as long as the cause 
of the mischief is in a deficiency of moisture in the soil. 
That mildew can be prevented by those who grow Roses on a limited 
scale, even on heavy land during such seasons as the past, I have proved. 
The surface of the soil should be stirred frequently until a good portion 
is reduced to dust, which will prevent cracking. A good soaking of 
water and the surface well mulched afterwards with manure or other 
material to prevent evaporation has proved effectual when the cause has 
been drought. If mildew has appeared before this remedy has been 
applied, that existing upon the foliage of the plants should be destroyed 
by syringing thoroughly with a solution of softsoap—1 ounce to the 
gallon of water, in which has been stirred a good handful of sulphur. 
Not only do Roses suffer from mildew on tenacious soils during the 
prevalence of very hot dry weather, but they are attacked when seasons 
prove the opposite. I have seen plants on several occasions badly infested 
during cold wet summers when it was utterly impossible to find a speck 
on plants growing in light sandy soil, which proves conclusively that a 
8iq)erabundance of cold and moisture is also a sure cause of mildew. 
When plants suffer from drought water can be applied and the disease 
destroyed, but we have no control over the atmosphere and the moisture 
it contains, therefore we have no chance left us of stamping it out during 
such seasons. 
I do not contend that Roses growing upon light or moderately light 
soils are proof against the attacks of mildew, for such is not the case, for 
I have seen plants as badly affected in low, cold, wet distiicts during bad 
seasons as on heavy soils. Perfect drainage is essential, but some plan 
that would amount to overdraining the beds and borders has been sug¬ 
gested to me, but as far as I am capable of judging would not prove 
beneficial, for the remedy would tell materially against the plants in 
favourable seasons. It is not difficult to determine the cause of mildew, 
and indoor plants can be grown free from it and an attack can be pre¬ 
vented by judicious management, but outside the case is different. At 
the present time I have light soil to deal with, resting on a formation of 
red sandstone, and in the majority of seasons the Roses have suffered but 
little from mildew, except in one place where Roses are planted, and the 
position and its surroundings are the chief cause which to some extent 
have been removed, and which will, I feel sure, prove beneficial to the 
plants. This season mildew made its appearance, and as soon as it was 
observed the surface soil was drawn back, a thorough soaking of water 
given towards evening, and the soil returned in as dry a condition as 
possible. After this the plants were syringed with the solution advised 
above and the mildew disappeared. 
Mildew is not brought into existence only by the two causes pointed 
out. I have proved others to be instrumental in bringing about an 
attack ; for instance, unsuitable soil, inefficient drainage, the soil rendered 
sour by too freely using liquid manure will do this. Again, positions 
may be selected for Roses that are unsuitable, and the surroundings may 
be of such a nature to exclude full sunshine and prevent a free circulation 
of air amongst the plants. Roses growing under such circumstances are 
very liable to be attacked whether the soil is light or loamy. It will then 
be seen that one of many causes, or a combination, may operate in the 
same direction to bring about a check and predispose the plants to an 
attack of this parasite.— Wm. Bardney. 
IN SCOTLAND. 
From Bridge of Allan little more than an hour’s journey conveys the 
visitor to Crieff, one of the most beautiful and horticulturally interesting 
districts in the magnificently wooded and charmingly diversified county 
of Perthshire. To a stranger from the south perhaps nothing is more 
remarkable than the richness of vegetation and grandly wooded estates 
of this portion of Scotland, which appears to be the natural home of 
forest trees, for in no other county of Great Britain are there so many 
handsomely developed specimens. Oaks, Beeches, and Limes attain 
gigantic dimensions, while Conifers can there be seen of noble pro¬ 
portions, and in that vigorous healthy condition which in England is 
unfortunately too rare. This imparts to the scenery a most distinctive 
character, which contrasts very strongly with the barren grandeur of the 
neighbouring mountainous districts. There is something imposingly 
majestic in the appearance of a finely developed tree which must be 
appreciated by all lovers of Nature. “ It is no exaggerated praise to call 
a tree the grandest and most beautiful of all the productions of the earth,” 
wrote Gilpin many years ago, and probably there are few who have not 
observed some of these giants of the forest with a feeling closely akin to 
awe. We may have the greatest admiration for the exquisite floral sym¬ 
metry of the occupants of our plant houses and gardens, but in the 
forest we approach a sublimity which no other form of vegetation can 
possess. 
Perthshire abounds in finely wooded parks, plantations, and forests, 
the total space under wood reaching close upon 100,000 acres, being sur¬ 
passed only by Aberdeen with 103,000 acres, and Inverness with 162,000 
acres. Planting has been carried out in a most liberal and judicious 
manner on most of the estates, and large tracts of what was once barren 
land are now occupied with Larches and other timber, which are rapidly- 
becoming very valuable. The Larch is peculiarly at home in Perthshire, 
for it was to Dunkeld that probably the first plants introduced to Scotland 
were sent, being forwarded. Sir Thomas Dick Lauder tells us, to the Duke 
of Athole in 1727, and “ the plants having arrived with some Orange trees 
and a number of other Italian strangers, they were all treated in the same 
way, and were subjected to the suffocatic n of a hothouse. The unfor- 
tunSite mountaineers languished, and to all appearance died, and were 
thrown out of the garden into a heap of rubbish,” where they ultimately 
recovered and grew strongly. Subsequently large districts were devoted 
to the Larch, and the value of the land greatly increased. In a very 
interesting and able work on “ The Woods, Forests, and Estates of 
Perthshire,” by Mr. Thomas Hunter, is given the following estimate of 
the present value of the land under wood in this county, which will 
convey an idea of the advantages of planting judiciously carried out. 
“ According to the latest returns there are 94,563 acres of plantations, 
these including both young and old wood, as it is impossible to ascertain 
from the returns the relative proportions and value of each. We believe, 
however, we are taking a very moderate estimate when we say that the 
woods all over the connty should average £35 per acre ; this would make 
the total value nearly three millions and a half.” 
But the chief object of my journey to Crieff was to see some of the 
gardens in the neighbourhood, and though the time at my disposal only 
enabled me to visit two—namely, Drummond Castle and Abercairny, I 
was well satisfied with the day’s occupation. 
DRUMMOND CASTLE. 
In extent and beauty the Drummond estate is one of the finest in 
Scotland, and the fame of the princely establishment has spread far into 
other lands. The greater portion of the most picturesque districts of the 
county is included in this estate, comprising the celebrated Trossachs, 
several lochs, the villages of Callander and. St. Fillans, with the major 
part of the town of Crieff. The greatest breadth is upwards of twenty 
miles, and the total acreage about 72,000 acres, 62,000 being hill land, or 
occupied with plantations, and the remaining portion is arable land. This 
magnificent property has been in the possession of the Drummond family 
for something like 800 years, as it was shortly after William the Con¬ 
queror ascended the English throne that the foundation of the fortunes 
of the Drummond family was laid in Scotland. It is recorded that when 
Edgar Atheling and his sister Margaret quitted England after William 
the First had commenced his tyrannical reign, they set sail for Hungary, 
being accompanied by a number of nobles who were personally attached 
to the prince, amongst whom was a Hungarian of high descent named 
Maurice. To this gentleman the conduct of the vessel was entrusted, and 
by his care the safety of the party was ensured, for being driven out of 
their course by adverse winds, and endangered by severe storms, they 
were at last compelled to put ashore in the Firth of Forth at a point now 
termed St. Margaret’s Hope. The reigning king of Scotland at that time 
was Malcom Canmore, who had his court at Dunfermline, and thither the 
royal refugees and their attendants were invited, and treated with the 
greatest hospitality. Ultimately Edgar’s sister Margaret became the wife 
of Malcom and the Queen of Scotland, grants of land being bestowed upon 
the nobles. One of the most favoured of these was the Maurice already 
mentioned, who was the founder of the Drummond family, and being 
granted several estates, he devoted himself to the service of King Malcom, 
and died fighting for his interests. The name Drummond has been 
variously derived from the Greek, Latin, and Celtic, but all appear to 
have a similar origin, pointing to the service rendered by Maurice as 
captain of Edgar’s ship. Since then there has been a long succession of 
thanes and lords, many of whom have been accomplished men, and have 
taken a prominent part in the history of their times and the property is at 
present in the possession of Baroness Willoughby d’Eresby, who has 
gained that title by marriage. 
Drummond Castle is about four miles from Crieff, about half this 
distance being a magnificent avenue of Beeches and Limes, such as is 
scarcely equalled in Great Britain, and indeed has been favourably com¬ 
pared with some of the most celebrated avenues of a similar kind in 
Europe generally. At the entrance to the Park there is a road to the left 
and one to the right, the forpier traversing the estate and the latter being 
the direct communication with the Castle. This is also a remarkable 
avenue of Beeches, its appearance being rendered still more notable by its 
narrowness, the width not exceeding 15 feet, except where there are 
sidings for carriages or travellers going in opposite directions. These 
trees are mostly of considerable age with massive stems, and their branches 
closely interlacing overhead form an extraordinary and beautiful arboreal 
tunnel. The road for the greater part of its length is a steep ascent. As 
we approach the CasTe some magnificent views are obtained in a northerly 
direction, first of the splendidly wooded valley in which gleams the 
extensive lake, then of Crieff, which forms an interesting feature of the 
landscape, and lastly of the splendid background of the Grampians, a 
fitting finish to such a superb picture, the whole glowing under a bright 
September sun. But we cannot stay to admire this charming scene ; the 
noble and massive Castle is reached, and in another minute we are standing 
u{ on the terrace overlooking the celebrated and magnificent 
