October 17, 1896. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
105 
Seedlings raised each year usually give the most 
satisfaction, although the old plants may be turned 
to very good account if properly looked after. 
You may withhold water from yours, and thus keep k 
through the winter. Start it into growth early next 
spring, and give it plenty of heat. Cuttings may be 
taken when the shoots are 2 in. or 3 in. long. They 
root readily if placed in sandy soil with a nice bottom 
heat. 
-- 
A VISIT TO DUNTREATH CASTLE. 
Being in Glasgow and having a day to spare, I 
thought I could not do better than take a run down 
to see Duntreath Castle, one of the country seats of 
Sir Archibald Edmonstone. I had not for years 
visited this ancient residence of the Edmonstone 
family, which some five years ago the present 
siderable detour, besides depriving one of the lovely 
walk which now goes along the valley by the side of 
the stream from which the district takes its name. 
I had not proceeded far on my road when I met 
Mr. Brough the head gardener, and on introducing 
myself and explaining the nature of my visit, he 
accorded me a very hearty welcome, remarking at 
the same time in a jocular strain that he was 
surprised that people from the south would come 
hunting for practical and up-to-date horticulture in 
a wild " Hieland Glen." 
No time was wasted, for after a few remarks as to 
the natural beauty of the surrounding district, we 
passed on by the pond, which, at a turn of the drive, 
one comes upon quite unexpectedly. " This I found 
was teeming with trout, and the many water fowls 
which were sporting upon it, made one regret Mr. 
Brough was not the gamekeeper instead of the head 
most noticeable having the family Coat of Arms as a 
design, I also noted eight very telling beds of Pelar¬ 
gonium, Henry Jacoby, and Flower of Spring mixed, 
edged with Lobelia speciosa, the latter planted thickly 
and resting gracefully on the grass, while Pelargonium 
Henry Jacoby flowered most profusely with very 
large trusses of blooms. 
Another four beds which made a very pleasing 
combination, were made up of Hyacinthus 
candicans and Gladiolus brenchleyensis intermixed, 
with a ground work of pink Saponaria, edged with 
yellow Violas. Other examples were several beds of 
Lobelia cardinalis, and Red Orache, large beds of 
Carnations, Mrs. Muir and Raby Castle mixed, 
margined with Mimulus Harrisonii. As supports 
for the Carnations, Mr. Brough uses galvanised 
wire cut in lengths, twisted by some process which 
does away with all tying, the flower spike being 
The Flower Garden, Duntreath Castle, Stirlingshire, 
Baronet restored, considerably enlarging and 
beautifying the Duntreath of former days, and giving 
place to an entirely new order of things ; for with the 
exception of the old tower of the castle, there are 
comparatively few of the old land marks in the valley 
remaining; but Dumguac and Dumgoine Hills still 
stand sentry, and add materially to the beauty of the 
landscape. 
Taking train by the Blane Valley Railway to Blane- 
field, the weather beiDg all that could be desired on 
this lovely August morning, I arrived at the station 
after about an hour’s journey. 
On leaving the platform one is confronted by a 
private approach to the demesne, this having been 
made only recently and shortening the distance to 
the castle by about a mile and a half, which was a 
pleasant surprise, as the old turnpike road which 
leads to the principal entrance necessitated a con- 
gardener. To the rear of the pond the ground rises 
quickly, and with Sir Archibald’s consent this has 
been thickly planted principally with Spruce Firs as 
shelter for the water fowl and also with the object of 
entirely changing the character of the landscape. 
The hour being early when we got to the Castle 
enabled us to make a thorough inspection of the 
immediate surroundings without in any way inter¬ 
fering with the privacy of the family, which was at 
the time resident there, besides giving me more 
time to take notes for future reference. 
The Flower Garden 
Extends round two sides of the Castle, and the 
flower beds which are numerous and exceedingly 
well filled with plants, have a most telling effect, the 
arrangement being most pleasing to the eye (see 
illustration). There are some very fine examples of 
carpet bedding an scroll work, two of which were 
twisted round this spiral wire ; the idea is a good 
one, as the wire being so like the gray grass of the 
Carnation it is only noticeable on a minute examina¬ 
tion. Another very effective bed which took the 
eye contained subtropical plants, with many of the 
Ricinus and Lavatera arborea 8 ft high. These 
were growing on a ground work of Red Orache 
which was kept pinched, and again margined by 
Scrophularia nodosa variegata, the whole finished 
off with an edging of Lobelia, Crystal Palace Com- 
pacta. Marguerites are extensively used both in 
beds and borders, one very novel telling arrange¬ 
ment in a long ribbon border, being a mixture of 
Marguerites and dwarf scarlet Scabious planted 
alternately. 
As space will not permit of my noting here 
separately, all the features of this beautiful retreat, 
I must pass on to the other objects of interest 
