December 28, 188^. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
573 
and left. The house is in the " florid Gothic ” style, and was commenced 
in 1806 from designs by the noted Edinburgh architect, Mr. Crichton ; 
the central tower, with some other improvements, are, however, of more 
recent date. The general appearance is massive and handsome, according 
well with its surroundings, and being situated on slightly elevated ground, 
forming a well-proportioned terrace, it commands an extensive prospect 
in the direction of the Ochils and the Turlum Hill. The home 
attractions, t^, in the magnificent park of 800 acres, the well-kept flower 
garden, the rich arboretum, and the admirable kitchen garden are such as 
few estates can surpass, and whether to the horticulturist or the lover of 
Nature in general, Abercairny possesses an interest that proves its fame 
is well merited. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN AND ARBORETUM, 
To the north of the mansion the ground rises gently to considerably 
above the level on the opposite side, and this very suitable situation was 
chosen for the flower garden. It comprises twelve acres, and was laid 
out by Mr. Lewis Kennedy of London in 1812, the design being distin- 
Perthshire it appears to thrive exceedingly well, growing strongly, yet 
preserving its variegation as clear as possible. In this state it is very 
beautiful, and it might be much more generally employed in the south 
than is the case at present. The Pyrethrum, too, colours well, and make* 
a very pretty marginal plant. The Matricaria flowers most profusely, 
and though having a tendency to become somewhat straggling, particu¬ 
larly when growing vigorously, its pure white neatly formed blooms are 
pretty and useful for cutting. Near the flower beds is a range of glass 
houses, which are devoted to miscellaneous plants, either to afford flowers 
for cutting or to be employed in table and room decoration, and the best 
use is made of the means at, command for producing a good supply. 
Turning to the arboretum we find ample to occupy our attention, for 
the collection includes a large number of the most handsome species of 
Conifers, mostly represented by fine examples, varying in age from twelve 
years to half a century. It is surprising how well the Conifers develope 
their characters and beauties in this district, for there are several species 
reputed tender or unsatisfactory in England, which at Abercairny and 
some other’gardens in Perthshire not only grow but assume very hand- 
Fio, 95.—ABERCAIRNY. 
guished by a simple effectiveness that is far more pleasing than many 
more elaborate and correspondingly formal arrrangements. The centre 
of the garden is traversed by a fine grass walk some hundreds of yards 
long and 30 feet wide, bounded on each side by large beds of luxuriant 
Rhododendrons, the hardy Azaleas, and numbers of other shrubs which 
are boldly grouped in large numbers. With this walk are connected 
several others of similar dimensions, the majority opening up pleasing 
vistas or bringing into prominence some of the finely developed Conifers 
which abound. The turf is dense, even, and excellently kept, imparting 
a most charming freshness to the appearance of the garden ; and though 
there are special disadvantages attending walks of this kind, they seem 
more truly in accord with the character of a flower garden than the most 
carefully attended gravel walks can be. The flower beds are homely in 
design, and their occupants are homely also, but not the less effective or 
satisfactory on that account. Roses occupy a number of beds, and such 
plants as Pentstemons, Petunias, Gladioli, Phloxes, Violas, Carnations, 
Calendula Meteor, Godetias, especially Duchess of Albemarle, the double 
Matricaria inodora, Perillas, the variegated Polemonium coeruleum, and 
Pyrethrum selaginoides are largely and tastefully employed in masses, 
margined with one or two rows of dwarf plants. The Polemonium is a 
much-valued plant at Abircaimy, and as in several establishments in 
some proportions. The whole county, however, seems to be in some way 
particularly well suited to tree-life, for in the earliest ages it wa^, at least 
in the lowland region, covered with a dense forest, which proved impassable 
to the Romans, and an effectual protection for the natives. It has been 
suggested that one cause for this may be found in the form and position 
of the county giving a more Continental character to its climate; but 
there also appears to be something due to the soil, as cHmatal conditions 
alone would not produce the vigorous yet solid growth which distinguishes 
the Conifers and deciduous trees of the district. At Abercairny are hand¬ 
some specimens of Picea nobihs, P. cephalonica, P. grandis, P. Webbiana, 
and P. Nordmanniana, Abies Menziesi in some cases exceeding 40 feet 
in height; Abies Albertiana about the same height; Cupressus Lawsoniana, 
30 feet to 35 feet high, and numbers of others of slightly smaller dimensions, 
Sciadopitys verticillata, Thuiopsis dolobrata, and Cupressus nutkaensis 
being very fine and abundant, some of the latter nearly 30 feet high and 
12 feet in diameter at the base. The Silver Firs are, however, the grandest 
of all in size, for some reach the height of CO to 70 feet, and beautifully 
proportioned. Such trees as these cannot be seen in many gardens, and 
in general beauty they are unsurpassed in the country. There is a number 
of these, together with other evergreen and deciduous trees bordering 
the remarkable grass walk named “ Lady Fanny’s Walk,” which is seen 
