May 18, 1901. 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
005 
especially heavy loamy soils. Wood ashes are rich 
in potash, a manure that is very often deficient in 
heavy soils, and it soon becomes exhausted in 
gardens, for Potafos show in the analysis that 48 8o 
per cent, of their ashes, when burned, consists of 
potash. The ashes of Cherry wood contain over 
20 per cent. Peas are greatly benefited by dressings, 
also the Cabbage tribe. 
Temple Show.— Visitor : It is a three day show 
commencing on May 22nd. The nearest station is 
the Temple on the District Railway. If you are 
coming to King's Cross take a 'bus which is going to 
Fleet Street, and there alight and walk down on to 
the Thames Embankment. The show faces the 
river. 
RANUNCULUS ACONITIFOLIUS FL PL. 
The single flowered form of this Crowfoot seems to 
be the more common in southern gardens, but the 
double form under notice is by far the most effec¬ 
tive for border decoration, and seems to be the only 
form known in northern gardens, where the climate 
seems more to its liking than in the sunny south. 
Like the Globe Flower (Trollius) it seems to prefer 
cool northern districts and damp upland places. At 
all events those who would like to succeed with it in 
the dry atmosphere of southern England should 
plant it in cool, moist borders, or even on the wet 
margin of a pond or lake where its roots could dip 
into the moisture which sustains its foliage and 
flowers. When once established in soil to its liking, 
it occasions no after trouble except when the plants 
get too large or too crowded and exhausted to flower 
well. It is a bad plan to plant it in dry or gravelly 
soil, as the flowers soon reach their final stage of 
development and the petals drop, if the weather is at 
all dry and hot during May and June when the plant 
is in bloom. The double flowers, represented by a 
shoot in the accompanying woodcut, are much more 
durable and more effective than the typical wild 
state of the plant with five small petals. 
Propagation is easily effected in March, earlier or 
later according to the weather, by division of the 
rootstock, each crown with its roots forming a nice 
plant, which will soon increase in strength when put 
into cool and fertile fresh soil. A little peat might 
be used by those who have not a suitable soil of the 
above character. Where it succeeds well in almost 
any garden soil it is a popular plant, and well known 
to gardeners and country people under various 
fanciful names. While Bachelors’ Buttons is the 
most common name by which it is known through¬ 
out the greater part of Britain. Its companion, 
Yellow Bachelors' Buttons, is R. acris flore pleno, 
which is of easy Cultivation. Other names for the 
white one are Fair Maids of France and Fair Maids 
of Kent. While a congener of the Buttercups, it has 
foliage more like that of a Trollius or Aconite. 
AUCHENRAITH, LANARKSHIRE. 
The county of Lanark not only is the heart of 
Scottish industrial pursuits but as well contains 
some of the most exquisite bits of scenery of which 
our nation can boast. Though the general physical 
features may not in every case merit a first place in 
Scottish scenery, there can be no dubiety whatever 
as to its claim to such a place as far as the far-famed 
valley of the Clyde is concerned. True, even then 
we do not meet with the awe inspiring grandeur of a 
wild mountainous highland valley, nor its dread still¬ 
ness and awful solitude, soothing perhaps to some, but 
replete with terrorizing impressions to most persons. 
Nay, here amid the throbbing arteries of life and 
healthy bustle, we find the most perfect retreats from 
all the turmoil and care incidental to our busy age. 
A charming valley is that through which the 
waters of the Clyde flow. From its source till it 
opens into the sea it may be said to be full of interest 
and variety, perhaps in character unique. Rich in 
woods of countless ages, and hoary ruins of ancient 
times, round which the shades of the Bruce, 
Wallace and the dread Douglass linger with a lustre 
so resplendent as almost that of the day star itself. 
And many a beetling rock and rugged crag adorn 
its sides, and could they speak, how many tales of 
valour and renown would they unfold. Yea, more, 
they would echo back the woe and anguish of many 
a bleediog and forlorn fugitive hounded from the 
haunts of man for freedom of conscience and liberty 
of worship. 
Probably no other valley in the kingdom has such 
a record of incidents crowded into its history as that 
of the Clyde. It is, therefore, in consideration of all 
these things, cot wonderful to find here a scene rich 
in lordly mansion houses and exquisite residences, 
and among these is the subject of our sketch. 
Auchenraith is the estate and residence of Archibald 
Russell, Esq , and is situated about two miles west¬ 
ward from the ancient Burgh of Hamilton, and in 
close proximity to the ever memorable scene of 
Bothwell " Brig ” where so many of our forefathers’ 
blood was shed for our nation’s religion. The name 
of this estate would imply Celtic origin, and like its 
old Oaks is evidently a remnant of our ancestors, 
the ancient Britons, Clydesdale at one time being 
peopled by the Cymri. The name being purely Celtic 
would further lead us to suppose the place to have 
been one of those favoured ones, where the ancient 
British priest raised up his sacred fane and held 
intercourse with his gods, and performed many a 
mystic rite, for Auchen means a glade and raith a 
circle. 
The typical features of the valley of the Clyde are 
brought well into prominence here. We have the 
rocky crags, over whose ledges float in the breeze the 
wild Fern and rambling native Ivy, with other 
denizens of the rocks. Here also is the deep glen 
through which flows one of the many rivulets that so 
frequently give point and character to our Scottish 
scenery. Then here is that blendiag of heights and 
hollows always so conducive to the formation of a 
pleasing landscape. The mansion house is several 
hundred feet elevated above the glen, on a level 
plateau, and the intervening long slope is entirely 
lawns and woodlands. An approach leading to the 
mansion from this side crosses the valley by a stone 
bridge of several arches. From this Ivy-clad bridge 
a very impressive view can be had and very specially 
of the new alterations which have recently been 
carried out in the transformation of the kitchen 
into an ornamental and flower garden. The taste 
here displayed is at once most creditable both to Mr. 
Russell and Mr. Millar, his gardener. Where this 
improvement has been so happily and judiciously 
carried out, there formerly was the kitchen garden ; 
but whatever its merits for such, it certainly must 
have been a matter of considerable difficulty to work 
on account of its steep surface. The position we 
would think was one very suitable, however, for the 
production of early fruits and vegetables, but let the 
merits be what they may every person who has the 
least iota of the artistic in their constitution will 
approve of the change. 
The whole sloping area is now converted into a 
grass lawn having large parterres of various shrubs, 
ornamental and flowering, and also summer bedding 
plots. The view from the above mentioned bridge is 
magnificent. At the top stands the conservatory, and 
a range of vineries and Peach-houses, while away to 
the right stands the mansion house half hidden 
among the trees. On the opposite side of this new 
flower garden, rises high a wall of rugged rocks ; a 
pleasure walk at the bottom flanks the meandering 
course of the stream,and disappears into the surround¬ 
ing coppice. From whichever side the panoramic 
or rather dioramic scene is viewed the spectator is 
delighted. 
The new kitchen garden is certainly now in a 
much more suitable situation, and besides is in close 
proximity to the garden offices, a matter of no smail 
importance, and besides is on comparatively level 
ground Of course the formation of this was no in¬ 
considerable matter, for all gardeners who have had 
experience in such work are aware of the labour 
connected with the construction of a new garden. In 
this part of the country the work perhaps is of a still 
more serious nature, on account of the stiffness of 
the soil, and some years must elapse before the soil 
becomes the genial sort of mould every good grower 
likes to handle. 
The glass structure here is well to the fore. The 
conservatory a'ready alluded to is an elegant 
building, and situated as it is in such an effective 
position, it adds no small tribute to combine in the 
general well balanced harmony which presents itself 
to the view. A few days ago when we visited the 
place, a beautiful display of Rhododendrons, Azaleas, 
and a most excellent show of Cinerarias adorned the 
conservatory. 
The centre dome is filled with tall Dicksonias and 
Ranunculus aconitifolius flore pleno. 
