322 THE LADIES’ MAGAZINE OF GARDENING. 
Tullyallan. —The day cleared, and a bright gleam of sunshine burst 
through the clouds just as we reached this beautiful mansion; which with 
its noble terrace and Italian garden, contrasted with the surrounding 
scenery, looks like fairy-land in a wilderness. The grounds are laid out 
very elegantly, and the whole scene is one of great beauty. 
August 8.— Kincardine by Valleyfield to Stirling. —The road lay by the 
sea-coast, and we saw a great portion of land redeemed by Lord Keith 
from the sea. Near the curious old town of Culross is a beautiful little 
cottage, or summer-house, facing a large tank for sea-fish. A walk sur¬ 
rounds the tank, bordered by a wall which has stone ledges for plants 
affixed to it, each in the shape of the segment of a circle. This singular 
enclosure was originally designed for salt-pans, by the Earl of Dun- 
donald, when he was in possession of the princely mansion of Culross 
Abbey, so long the principal seat of his family. 
Valleyfield was built and laid out by Sir Robert Preston. We entered 
by a very fine approach through a grove of trees, diversified by a river, 
with bridges and cascades. On advancing farther into the pleasure-grounds, 
we found a straight canal with fine terraces, an island of rhododendrons, 
and fine rockwork; but the whole was apparently neglected, and in great 
want of repair. It is a place which might be very greatly improved at a 
very trifling expense, especially by cutting down a few trees here and 
there to let in a view of the sea, which is very fine here. There are some 
large balsam poplars, and several black Italian poplars one hundred feet 
high, and three feet in diameter. 
Culross Abbey was the ancient seat of the Dundonald family, but since 
it has fallen into the hands of Sir Robert Preston, it has never been regu¬ 
larly inhabited. There is a fine avenue leading to it of lime-trees planted 
at regular distances about sixteen paces apart, and the width between the 
rows one hundred and twenty feet. In front of the abbey is a fine terrace 
walk, terminating in alcoves at each end, of the same age as the mansion. 
Below this is a second terrace, and fruit wall; and below again, grassy 
terraces. In the grounds are five or six cedars, from fifty feet to seventy 
feet high, and three or four feet in diameter. There are also two sweet 
chestnuts which ripen fruit every year, from which young trees have been 
raised. The largest of these trees is five feet in diameter at four feet from 
the ground. The grounds are all laid out in terraces, slopes, and plat¬ 
forms ; the principal terrace having a very fine old stair with pillars and 
parapets for vases. Among the trees are two Chinese arbor vitee, twenty- 
five feet high. In the house are some good rooms, and one intended for 
a picture gallery, but there are no paintings in it. 
Castle Hill , or Dunimarle, is formed on the site of Macduff’s castle, of 
