September 2, 1888. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
203 
ft** every county to which we have paid visits of late years, and 
they have been many, sad traces of demolition and pecuniary weakness 
are too visible. Many ef the finest of old domains, once the glory of the 
districts in which they were situated, are either let or tenantless, and the 
gardens, which were once the pride of the proprietors and the joy of the 
gardeners, are now in great straits, it having been absolutely neces¬ 
sary to reduce labour power and curtail all other expenditure. Such 
are n °t of a solitary character, especially in the districts from 
T «8 folIowin g no ^ es have been gathered. It is cheering, however, 
to find, on the other hand, that there are many examples of advancement 
oy enterprising proprietors who are doing much to uphold the status of 
horticulture and stem the tide of retrogression ; some establishments 
having undergone thorough renovation of late years, and other gardens 
we know are beiqg remodelled and extended, especially in the glass de- 
paitment; but making an entire new place is often a very simple matter 
compared with tiansforming an old one. 
It is with much pleasure that we lately visited the fine old seat known 
as Carron House, situated on the banks of the river Carron, where a 
e ^ 6 - re ^ orma *'’ on has taken place since we called there some years ago. 
t that time desolation and dilapidated property in its worst form was 
visible everywhere in the grounds. What had once been well appointed 
gardens, large mansion, well arranged offices, and good dwellings of 
employes at the time of our first visit were as ruinous as the hand of time 
one might not be wrong in saying mischievous hands — and total 
neglect could make them. But now the change is becoming very com- 
^he right side. Liberal expenditure and skill have made a very 
radical change. Everything completed or in process of manipulation is 
done m the most substantial and elegant manner. The present proprietor, 
I. D. Brodie, Esq., of Gairdocb, became possessor of this property some 
years ago, and having extensive estates in the locality, as well as other 
vast interests in the county of another character, he resolved to reno¬ 
vate the old seat throughout, and being a gentleman so favourably 
known for liberality and refined taste and sound discernment, the work 
at Carron House, one may be sure, has not been done by halves. The 
v, n< ^ 3 ’ P ar k> aQ d gardens are said to have been, during the early part 
of the present century, among the best for high keeping and usefulness in 
the county of Stirling. But for about half a century or so the place had 
been allowed to dwindle into insignificance. With no resident proprietor 
the fine old mansion became a dilapidated ruin covered with Ivy, or 
falling away piecemeal, but we have heard that plans for new additions 
to and renovations < f the old residence have been submitted, and probably 
a residence worthy of the property and proprietors may yet be seen. 
The park is being arranged similar to its ancient character. Many fine 
old trees are still standing, and well placed they are ; additional planta- 
are in contemplation, but much of this is not required. Where 
shelter is net necessary, and game not in request, we think it is wise to 
allow such excellent land to remain in the hands of the cultivators. Good 
fern^s have been erected for protection of trees and shrubs, which have 
suffered much from prowlers, who, for want of better employment, have 
used their knives freely in mutilating the bark of the old timber. It is 
singular how this propensity for mischief is so widely developed among 
certain classes. 
Entering by the new substantial iron gates to the garden we observe 
large brea,dths of choice trees and shrubs planted in the spacious grounds, 
and judiciously where the remnants of the old shrubberies stood. These 
plantations were made evidently at liberal cost two years ago last 
May. All are growing in the greatest of luxuriance, none having failed, 
lumbers of old Hollies having been skilfully cut in, removing all dead 
and unhealthy portions, have sprouted out, and are now forming hand¬ 
some bushes. In a triangular portion of the gardens at entrance was, 
when we visited the place for the first time, a jungle of Gooseberries, 
Apple trees, and offensive weeds of every description ; but now replaced 
by an elegant flower garden laid out in beds on grass, and numbers of 
fine specimen shrubs are planted. 
An arrangement to shut out a number of buildings by throwing up 
terraces and planting on a flat at the top level is very striking and 
beautifully executed, and the object of observation is very complete. 
Tall-stemmed Laburnums, with large heads to remove formality, are on 
the outer margin cf the terrace ; then dense lines of Cupressus Law- 
soniana, Hollies Hodginsii, Maderiensis, Golden Queen, and others, from 
o feet to 9 feet high, many fine specimens among them. Then there are 
Retinosporas and Myrtle-leaved Laurels forming a break at a lower level 
to the first named. Such a fine feature in a corner, which was at one 
time as offensive as neglected vegetation could make it, is specially 
worthy of note. At an opposite portion of this garden is placed the most 
handsome summer-house which we have seen, and fills up a large space 
where it would have been difficult for shrubs or other plants to have 
lived. The roof is rough plate glass, and the inside is ornamental wood 
stained and varnished. Blinds which can be used at pleasure and a set 
of ornamental rustic furniture completes a remarkably useful adjunct to 
a pleasure garden—elaborate, but thoroughly substantial, like all the 
new erections already completed. 
Passing onwards we reach the fine old vegetable garden, along the 
borders of which are splendid collections of Roses, remarkable for clean 
healthy foliage and profusion of florescence. Across a walk some 
100 yards or more long lines of Pansies are in full bloom, and beyond 
this an avenue through a wood gives an appearance of continuity of the 
most pleasiDg character. Every portion of the garden, at the time we 
took these notes, was closely cropped and a total absence of weeds. Many 
old dead and dying fruit trees have been removed, and others cut into 
form and manipulated at the roots are now a mass of fruit. Numbers of 
young dwarfs have been planted with kinds suitable to the climate an 1 
district. Small fruits are an immense crop, especially old Gooseberries, 
which have been lifted and replanted. Much of the ground has been 
raised by means of ashes placed under 3 feet of the soil, a plan acting 
admirably for drainage of ground which is nearly on a level with the 
adjacent river. There are fine old walls, once heated, which have been 
planted with selections of Apricots, Plums, Cherries, and Pears, suitable 
to the district. The trees are in the finest of health, well trained, and 
many are already loaded with Plums and Cherries. Cordons fan, vertical, 
horizontal, and other forms are seen, all equally promising. Little pruning 
is done. The head gardener (Mr. M. Temple, who has been entrusted 
with the renovation of this place) is very painstaking with fruit tree 
management, and says that he has very little faith in mutilating branches 
while the roots are allowed to grow at random. Most of these young 
trees have been root-pruned twice, causing a short fruitful growth, with 
large dark green foliage. The trees are allowed to fruit the first or second 
year, and are expected to continue fruiting abundantly whether on the 
restricted cordon or the larger tree. A number of Morello Cherries and 
other varieties which were lifted and transplanted last winter were loaded 
with fine fruits. These trees are said to be placed in soil rammed firmly 
and manured over the surface with Thomson’s Vine and plant manure. 
We now pass to finely kept lawn, studded at the outer boundary with 
fine old Cherries, Tulip Trees, Mountain Ashes, Hollies, Walnuts, and 
others with large trunks of great age. All small growth has been 
removed, leaving the clean trunks and gnarled roots standing on the 
clean grass unimpeded by any young plantation or the hiding up of what 
makes old trees peculiarly beautiful—viz., the large roots, which have 
monopolised much of the surface. Not long since this was reduced to a 
most obnoxious paddock, all traces of an ancient pleasure ground having 
been destroyed; an overgrown old orchard of some 6 acres, belted with 
some splendid Beeches and Oaks, has lately been added to the pleasure 
grounds. A few of the finest of the old Pear and Apple trees have been 
retained ; much of this space is intended for specimen Conifer®. We 
noticed large breadths of the finest kinds of Rhododendrons, in robust 
health, making excellent growth ; also numbers of Retinosporas of all the 
best kinds, Lilacs, Golden Spiraeas, round-leaved Laurels, specimen 
Hollies, Yews, and many others of the choicest of shrubs belting this 
lawn; but quite clear of the old trees, no cutting up or “ dotting,” as 
some mischievously do, on fine sward, and walks for use only are found 
here and kept as much out of sight as possible. We noticed thriving 
herbacoous borders some hundreds of feet long where we distinctly 
remember having seen a few years since the rubbish heaps and a luxuriant 
growth of Nettles and Dock. These had it all to themselves at one time, 
but collecting Paeonies, Spiraeas, Phloxes, Anemones, Pyrethrums, and 
many of the most useful of hardy flowering plants now occupy this 
space. 
From there we entered a range of very useful span-roofed houses, which 
are placed so that the ornamental ground is divided from the vegetable 
garden. This range may be about 300 feet long, erected for forcing fruits 
and vegetables, but these are now raised in other structures, and the span- 
roofed houses are mostly filled with plants. At one end a houseful of 
young healthy cool Orchids and Ferns mixed, a line of excellent Gloxinias 
along the margins alternated with Davallias of sorts was very striking. 
Other divisions were filled with plants in fine health for winter service. 
Azaleas, Camellias, Epacris, Acacias,, also Begonias, Libonias, Gardenias, 
and Bouvardias, Plumbago rosea, &c., were well represented in the various 
compartments. In an Orchid house for a general collection were numbers 
of useful species for cutting, many fine Dendrobiums nobile, Wardianum, 
Jamesianum, and others, a plant of Cymbidium eburneum Dayanum, 
about a yard across and very healthy, was doing well. Several dozen 
good sized Cypripediums longifolium and Sedeni were flowering very 
freely. Good plants of C. Lowi insigne Maulei, Harrisianum, Stonei, 
villosum, and others were in fine health, with stiff broad foliage. A good 
batch of Cattleyas of good size was in this house, among which we noticed 
Trianae, Mendeli, Mossiae, and Eldorado. A consignment of Trianae had 
lately been received from their native habitats, all starting freely into 
growth. A dozen or two were fastened to pieces of cork with a little moss 
attached. These were making growth ahead of those in pots, roots over 
6 inches long were hanging down. Several fine plants of Anthuriums 
were prominent features in this house. A pair of A. Scherzerianum were 
about a yard across and flowering freely. A fine plant of the valuable 
A. S. Knighti was in fine condition; Calanthes on shelves, with fine foliage ; 
Coelogynes are being increased ; enstata and the Chatsworth variety 
are valued much for cut flowers. There seems to be a great demand for 
this most usetul Orchid. A great grower for sale lately told us that this 
variety is increasing in value, the demand for it being very great. Numbers 
of small plants, such as Dracaenas, Asparagus, Lycopods, Ferns, Dieffen- 
bachias, Pandanus, &c., are mixed among the Orchids to give effect. 
Another house, the gayest on the place, contained a mass of double 
Petunias, tuberous Begonias (double and single), Pelargoniums of all the 
classes, Fuchsias, &c. A band of Harrison’s Musk along the edges was a 
very effective mass of yellow hanging down, almost overpowering with 
its perfume. This was erected as a Strawberry house, but now is most 
suitable a supply for the conservatory, an old building which was enlarged 
and had a rough plate glass roof put on. The inside walls were lined 
with beautifully stained and varnished wood. Tree Ferns, Dracaenas, 
Cordylines, standard Heliotropes, Hydrangeas, Coleus in variety, Pelar¬ 
goniums, Vallotas, &c., made a very lively show. Baskets hanging from 
the roof, and brackets of bronze colour, on which were drooping plants, 
were very effective. 
The principal fruit range is at the north side of the vegetable ga:dvn, 
