December 14, 1882. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
551 
are other memorial trees planted by learned and notable visitors to 
Keir. Beaching the summit a straight terrace-walk and avenue 
of Irish Yews extends northwards, with an embrasured hedge 
on the left as a dividing line between the upper and lower por¬ 
tions of the pleasure grounds. Parallel with this, but still higher, 
is another walk of a similar character, with at intervals memorial 
urns and entablatures in memory of departed friends. The upper 
walk leads to the kitchen garden, which is entered by massive 
gates from original designs by Sir William, the lower conducting 
to a range of glass, 300 feet long, erected against the kitchen 
garden wall, and facing the pleasure grounds. From here is, or 
was, seen what was for years regarded by many as the pride of 
Keir, a grand old Araucaria, a noble specimen about 50 feet high, 
excellently furnished and very handsome ; but it fell a prey to 
the ruthless storms of the past few years, having been uprooted, 
laid low, and replanted three times—its fate was sealed, and it 
is probably now removed to give place to a younger specimen, 
of which there are plenty of beautiful examples in the grounds. 
Before another is planted the rock will be excavated to afford a 
greater depth of soil, and had this been done originally the noble 
tree referred to would have doubtless yet been standing where it 
has stood so long and been so greatly admired. In this part of 
the grounds, too, which is of a less formal character, some fine 
Larches are prized, not so much for their size, which, however, 
is considerable, but because they are considered to rank with the 
oldest in Scotland. The oldest, as being the first introduced, 
are at Dunkeld, and the “story goes” that when the original 
trees reached their destination it was found a few were missing, 
and as the consignment passed Keir it is supposed that by acci¬ 
dent or “otherwise” the missing trees found refuge there, and 
there they remain. Be this as it may, they are noble specimens, 
and worthy of being prized by the family. 
“ Vistas ” have been mentioned as a feature of Keir. There are 
several worth note, but only one can be particularised. The rock 
on which Stirling Castle stands rises rugged and bold out of the 
centre of a low flat plain, and this commanding old fortress is an 
historical landmark, of which there are so many, but none more 
pronounced, in this romantic district. Well, from the umbrageous 
Pi,-. 93.— Keiu House. 
recesses of the Keir pleasure grounds a tunnel has been cut 
through the trees, pointing directly to and on the same level with 
Stirling Castle. This is the terminal point—nothing else is seen, 
nor nothing else is wanted, for no terrestrial telescopic view can 
be imagined more interesting. “ But why mention it 1 ” some 
may say, “ there is only one Stirling Castle, and the view cannot 
be imitated or reproduced 1 ” True, but the question suggests 
itself—Are there not other hidden objects, historic or picturesque, 
that with a little thought and labour might be revealed and 
brought within the range of vision, adding greatly to the interest 
of the site from which they might be viewed ? There are many, 
but not thought of. Let one example be given ; it may perhaps 
be called a child of Keir, for it is scarcely conceivable that any 
other spectacle could have led to it. Most persons have heard of 
Lincoln Cathedral, and those who have seen it will grant there 
are few edifices of the kind that are externally more imposing. 
Four miles from Lincoln is the residence of Mr. Alexander Leslie 
Melville, a near relative of Lady Susan Melville, this residence 
being enclosed with plantations, but on or about the level with 
the grand old building mentioned. From the front doorstep of 
Longhills Mr. Melville has produced what, to an artist, is worth 
a journey to see ; for he will see in the far distance, as if through 
a living telescope—and he will see nothing else—Lincoln Cathe¬ 
dral clear and well defined. It is a charming picture, nothing on 
the estate being half so attractive to visitors, and yet it has cost 
little to produce. The trees were at one end, the building at the 
other, and only the woodman’s axe and the artist’s eye were 
needed to do what has been done so well ; yet for years this 
matter was never thought of, and possibly never would have been 
but for the example referred to by Sir William Stirling Maxwell. 
The Keir and Stirling Castle vista, therefore, is worth mentioning, 
as, peradventure, it may induce others to consider if something of 
the same kind cannot be effected, and thus make some of the 
beautiful homes of Albion more admired still by their owners, 
guests, and visitors. Let the matter be pondered over by those 
who are interested in striking landscape effects, and who are 
seeking to reveal features of interest and beauty near, yet hidden 
by something that could with advantage be removed. 
“ Avenues,” too, have been mentioned. There are Deodar 
avenues, mixed Pine avenues, Cypress avenues that have not yet 
been alluded to at Keir ; nor can they be more than mentioned. 
There are specimens that merit notice that must be passed— 
Pinus monticola 40 to 50 feet high ; P. insignia, one of the few 
examples of mature age that have survived the late severe winters 
