270
entire, so th a t there is not a single view but what is wholly the property of th e owner ; unless in one
instance, where th e summit of Arthur’s Seat, an adjoining hill, is caught by the eye from one part o '
200
th e belt, over the tops of the trees in its opposite periphery. T h at this
place has, or had in 1790, great beauties, we do not deny ; but they ave
beauties of a peculiar kind, not of general nature ; not th e beauties
of Blair Drummond, or such as a liberal and enlightened mind would
now desire to render g en e ral; but in great part such as Sir William
Chambers holds up to ridicule in his Dissertation on Oriental Gardening
{see his Introduction, p. 6—11 ), and Price laughs a t in his Essays
on the Picturesque. Yet Duddingston m ay b e reckoned the model of
all future improvements in Scotland, till within the last twenty years.
T h e same artist laid out Livingston, effected some improvements at
Hopetoun House, Dalkeith, Dalhousie, Niddry, the Whim, Moredun,
various other places near Edinburgh, and some in Ayrshire.
611. N o artist o f note had hitherto arisen in Scotland in this
department o f gardening, if we except James Ramsay. This
person was employed by Robertson, in A}T.’shii'e, as a mason,
and soon displayed a taste for disposing of verdant sceneiy,
and afterwards became a landscapc-gai’dcner of considerable
repute. li e gave ground-plans and drawings in perspective,
both of the buildings and verdant scenery. Leith Head, a
small place near Edinburgh, is entirely his creation. His
style was that of Brown, in his waters and new plantations
neai* the h ouse; but he was less attached to the belt, his
clumps were not always regular, and he endeavoured to in-
ti’oduce a portion of third distance into all his views. Ramsay
died at Edinburgh in 1794, and this record of his taste
is due to his memoiy.
612. English professors o f the modern style have occasionally
visited Scotland, and some regularly. From nearly the first
introduction of the new style to the present time, annual
journeys have been made into Scotland from the county of
Dui’ham by the late Wliite, and subsequently by his son.
White, senior, we believe, was a pupil of Brown, of much
infonnation on country matters, and generally respected in
Scotland. Of his professional talents we have said enough,
when we have mentioned their source. Airthrie, near Stirling,
and Bargany, in Ayi’sliire, ai-e the principal productions
of this family. In what respects the talents of Wliite,
junior, differ from those of his father, or whether they differ
at all, we are not awai’e ; though we think it highly probable
they will pai’take of the general improvement of the
age. We have already mentioned that none of the eminent
English artists had ever been in Scotland; but that Valley-
field was laid out from Repton’s designs. Nasmyth, an eminent
landscape-painter in Edinburgh, and G. Parkyns, author
of Monastic Remains, have occasionally given designs for
laying out grounds in Scotland, both in excellent taste.
613. The country-seats o f Scotland will be found described
at length in the Traveller's Guide tlirough that countiy ; but
as, under England, we have given a somewhat detailed notice
of a celebrated place in that kingdom, so here we shall
give the description of one long celebrated in Scotland, as
ffirnishcd us, in 1831, by the veiy intelligent gardener there,
Mr. James Smith.
Hopetoun House {fig- 200.) is situated on th e banks of the F rith of
Forth, a fewr miles west from Edinburgh. Both on account of the elegance
of the mansion itself, and of th e magnificence of th e scenery
with which it is surrounded, it is considered one of the most princely
residences in Scotland. T h e house is of Palladian architecture, in the
French palace style of the age of Louis X IV. Its erection was commenced
from the designs of Sir William Bruce, and it was finished by
Mr. Robert Adams, a well-known architect in th e middle of th e last century.
T h e site is an irregular platform, not 300 yards from the Forth,
and about 100 feet above th e waters of th a t estuai-y. The ground declines
towards th e south and north, but especially towards th e latter ;
where there is a steep bank covered with wood, which forms a barrier
towards th e water. T h e area, including the park, pleasure-grounds,
and gardens, is irregularly undulated with ridges and valleys, termin
ating in a north-east direction towards the sea, and is thickly clothed
with old wood. The ground in th e immediate vicinity of the house is
not susceptible of much pictorial effect; a t least, much has not been
attempted, probably from the splendour of th e more distant scenery,
which lies within th e range of view from the principal windows, and
rises immeasurably above all the feeble imitations ol art. T h e view
from the east front is remarkably fine. From a bend in th e coast, the
house is so placed as to possess an almost central prospect of th e Forth, which stretches away as far
as the eye can reach, and forms a noble prospect, indented on either side by promontories, inter-
spersed with little islands, ^ d bounded on the extreme horizon by the German Ocean at about
th e distance of four miles. The elevated and finely wooded grounds of Dalmeny Park on one side,
and the bare and rugged hill of North Queensferry on the other, both projecting into the sea and
narrowing the passage, are conspicuous objects. In front of the la tte r is the bay of St. Margaret’s Hone
th e safest anchorage on the east coast, and which was in 1831 a quarantine station. Tlm number of
vessels which frequent th e Hope m stormy weather give this view quite a marine character. The
prospect ori th e west is less extensive, being limited by th e masses of trees in the pleasure-ground,
through which only a few vistas are cut to remarkable objects ; such as Blackness Castle, one of thè
forts upheld in conformity with the atocles of the Union, and a faded memorial of Scottish national
independence. Along the brow of the long and irregular plateau on which the house stands, there is a
terrace walk from which are seen views of surpassing beauty. T h e Forth, apparently cut off from
th e east by intervening objects, partakes of the lake character, and is said to resemble some of the lakes
of Switzerland. Immediately opposite, the contour of the hills of Fife is ra the r tame, but it rises into
more magnificence as it retires^ from the eye. F arth er west, th e Ochil Hills display those finely outlined
eminences which characterise the transition-series of rocks. They are seen with the sea as a base
line, and hence appear to be of greater elevation than they actually are. Beyond them, and still farther
west tower the rugged summits of the Grampians ; among which, Ben Ledi, Benmore, and, in clear
weather, Ben Lomond, are proudly conspicuous. T h e ground on the south side of the Forth is less
elevated, though th ere are occasional risings. T h e intermediate basin is occupied by an apparent
lake, about four miles broad, and of great length. Over this sheet of water the summer sunsets are of
uncommon splendour.
The p a rk at Hopetoun House contains about 1700 acres ; but, from th e irregularity of the surface and
th e abundance of tall trees, it can be seen only in detached portions. A considerable part is set aside
for deer, and encloses the kept or highly polished grounds on three sides. The pleasure-ground was
laid out between 1725 and 1730, and it is not known whether any of the professional artists of the time
were employed to assist m its formation. It appears to have been designed in the Dutch style, as there
are remains of yew hedges, and other decorations of that school: many changes have been made to
bring It nearer th e modern taste ; but it has never been entirely remodelled. There is still a verv
extensive lawn, with many right angles and straight lines ; but the extreme formality of these lines
has been broken, a t least to the eye, by the introduction of detached trees. T h ere is a certain stateliness
grounds, which harmonises well with the aspect of the mansion itself. The ground plan
(fig. 201. ) may be said to exhibit the anatomy, but, except to those who are practised in comparing plans
place*^ surfaces from which they were taken, will convey no accurate idea of th e physiognomy^of the
The climate o f this p a r t o f Scotland is favourable to th e growth of trees, particularly of evergreens
which are very abundant Some hollies have trunks approaching to six feet in circumference and à
number of the variegated kinds have reached the stature of trees of the third rank. Among the large trees
may be mentioned two cedars of Lebanon ; one of which is fifteen feet, and the other upwards of twelve
feet in circumference. Th ere is a black Ammcan spruce fir about seven feet, and a hemlock spruce
above lour teet and a halt, in circumference. T h ere are also two tulip trees, which flower ever w e a r
th e largest of which is nearly six feet in girth. It is a fact, perhaps, worth notice, th a t the cedars beforè
mentioned increase annually by two inches in circumference ; while the greatest increase that has
been observed m any other trees here is one inch, in th e Spanish chestnut. As indicating the mildness
of the climate, it may be remarked, that the ungrafted Spanish chestnuts ripen their fru it here
m favourable seasons.
I n the arboretum the ground is sown with grass, which is kept short. It is interspersed with a few
large trees of beech, sweet chestnuts, Scotch pine, &c. The plants lately introduced are the most
showy evergreens, collections of Cratæ'gus, yi'cer, and other genera. In this part of th e garden and
n ear th e stream of water on both sides, are various figures made in the grass, and planted with rhododendrons,
azaleas, ledums, and andromedas. T h e collection of roses is also here, and is extensive.
I k e situation and climate of these gardens are extremely favourable for fruit. The principal of these
a re apples, pears, apricots, and figs, which are produced in great abundance, and of excellent quality.
Plums and peaches succeed moderately well. Many of the new Flemish, French, and German pears
have borne fruit on th e walls : in general they are inferior to th e older sorts ; but the following may be
mentioned as valuable acquisitions to the country in general, and to Scotland in particular : — Beurrée
Spence, Mane Louise, Napoleon, Greenknowe, Winterbirne, Duchesse d’Angoulème, Passe-Colmar
several varieties. Nouvelle Beurrée d ’Hiver, Délicesde Chasselas, Glout Morceau, B eurrée d’Aremberg’
with, perhaps, some others. The autumn Bergamotte ripens on standards, and in this state is, perhaps
of finer quality than when grown on walls. The Downton and Ingestrie Pippin apples succeed
perfectly well on standards ; a thing of common occurrence in England, but ra re in Scotland
The gardens at Hopetoun House are placed on the south-east of the house ; and, as may be seen from
th e plan (fig. 201. g to r ) , are ra the r nearer it than in most m odern residences. The gardens however
do not intercept any of the principal views ; and they are covered by a tall holly hedge, which beins
allowed to grow wild, forms an agreeable side screen to the front lawn. T h e gardens are formed on
th e two sides of a shallow valley, through which runs a small stream of water. The declivities slope
to th e south and north. T h e extent is about thirteen acres ; this space was intersected by a number of
interior walls ; but these were removed in 1816, when the gardens were remodelled. At th a t time thev
had fallen into a state of comparative neglect and exhaustion ; and they were surcharged with moisture
m consequence of the stream alluded to running over a bed of peat moss. It was found impossible to
confine this stream by any other less artificial means th an a paved channel, watertight in the bottom
and sides. The peat soil was then carefully drained. T h e surface o fth e ground, which had hitherto
been very uneven, was levelled; great care being taken to preserve an uniform layer of soil of sufficient
thickness, and a t the same tu n e to effect such an intermingling of th e materials as to remedy the
exhaustion, which had arisen from th e protracted culture of th e surface. In this operation more than
80,000 cart l o ^ s of earth were moved. Along several of the walls, th e fruit borders had become
completely exhausted ; the soil was therefore removed, and its place was supplied with tu rf and fresh
loam. Many young trees were planted; and th e excellence of th eir fruit, and the increased fertility of
the old trees, have already repaid the labour: indeed, this is an operation which may always be safelv
recommended in such circumstances, when fresh soil in sufficient quantity can be easily procured It
may be remarked, th a t, in renewing the soil both of th e borders and of the garden, recourse was
g e n e r^ y had to an accumulation of vegetable mould, which had been collected from the leaves
a tt e n d e /wfth?heh?ppfost^^^^ employed to ameliorate the heavy soil, and was
Tke kitchen-garden (fig. 201. n n n ) is composed of two declivities, with a narrow intermediate space
and embraces a considerable variety of soils; such as sand, gravel, peat earth, and light and claveè
loam. These circumstances, with th e varied inclinations of the surface, are very advantageous in
accelerating or protracting crops, and in adapting them to th e different seasons. When th e whole was
recast, m 1816, it was wished to avoid th e stiff form which prevails in many gardens in this p a rt of
Scotland, and advantage was taken of th e extent and uneven surface to give th e whole an irregular
effect without entrenching much on the principle of utility ; one wall encloses th e kitchen flower and
other garden departments. The gardens may be said to be divided into four unequal portions running