MaRrCH 2, 1903. 
—_—— 
By the time we have finished our ramble 
through the gardens of St. Vigeans we feel 
sure our readers will agree that Dr. Stir- 
ling has grown a perfect little paradise f 
intersting jtreeg and plants airound. his 
home. A. place where the young may 
study and learn, for everything is hall- 
marked with its proper name, and where 
visitorg of mature years may wander, never 
failing to find something of interest, and 
at the same time add to their knowledge. 
ee 
ee 
[Kindly lent by proprietors ‘Adelaide Observer,”] 
We left our readers at the lower en- 
trance gate. The path itself leading 
round the foot of hill first claims attention. 
A gentle slope, the natural dark soil car- 
peted with a strip of golden-colored gravel, 
leaving an edge of a foot or so on each side 
has a very striking effect. On the right- 
hand is the hill covered with a massof varie- 
gated foliage, an idea of which may be 
gathered fromthe description of beautiful 
trees and shrubs in our previous article. 
On the left hand is the flat, containing two 
shadehouses, a water pond, and plots of 
flowers. Bordering the path on the right 
are elms, maples, and oaks intertwining 
their lovely foliage branches, while the 
bordering on the left contains a large col- 
lection of Japanese maples, the two bor- 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER, » 
oT. VIGEANS. + 
DSBR 
ders making an avenue of rare beauty. The 
maples are planted round a large bed of 
Rhododendrons (from rhodon, “a rose,” and 
dendron, ‘‘a tree’’), and their closely allied 
family of Ghent Azaleas, Dr. Stirling has 
for years taken great trouble, and spared. no 
expense to get his show of Rhododendrons 
as complete and good as possible. Visitors 
from -fay and near travel yearly ‘to St. 
Vigeans to see this collection, and the doc- 
tor in his visits to England has made fast 
Dr. 
Stirling and Miss M. Stirling. 
friends in  Rhododendrons with the 
Waterer family, who are probably the most 
noted growers of these floral beauties in 
the world. 
The picture presented is from a photo- 
graph taken while the bed was in full 
bloom, and gives an idea of what a mass 
of beauty is exhibited there. To realise 
it better all the white blooms in the pic- 
ture must be turned into a variety cf 
deep rich colorings, and lovely tints, from 
white through the various shades of red, 
from the palest rose to dark plum color, set 
in a beautiful green foliage, intermingling 
just’ enough to enhance the beauty of the 
scene. The plants are all strong and well 
grown, and we attach a list of some of the 
most noteworthy ; 
Clementina Walsh: Rose. 
Everstiana: Lilac. 
Sappho: Blush white, blotched maroon. 
Marquis of Waterford: Bright pink. 
Mum: White. 
The Strategist: Pink. 
Fastuosum fl., pl.: Lilac, half double. 
Beauty of Bagshot: White with dark 
eye. 
John Waterer: Brilliant carmine. ., 
Kate Waterer: Rosy crimson, yellow 
blotch. : 
Nero: Dark purple, pretty spots. 
Concessum: Bright rose, light centre. 
Lord Wolseley: Scarlet. 
Madam Carvalhio: Blush, with greenish 
Spots. 
Mr. John Clutton: White. 
Princess of Wales: Light purple, light 
centre. | 
The Queen: Blush white. 
W. E. Gladstone: Deep rose. 
Pink Pearl: Rosy pink, with an immense 
truss measuring 9 in. across the base—the 
gem of the collection. This, Messrs. John 
Waterer declares, is the finest Rhododen- 
dron. he has ever produced. 
After feasting the eyes upon this beauty 
spot of magnificent hloom we take the path 
