Contributor.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 29, 21 October 1893, Page 3

Contributor.

(Bv W. H. Mathihson.)

DRUMLANRIG CASTLE.

V During’ my visit to this castle I was sliown over the gardens, of which I liave already given you some particulars. While in the vineries the head gardener (Mr Thomson), told me that they grew the finest flavoured grapes in the world, and as a natural consequence they brought the highest price in the London market. \Vhile your colonial grapes bring pennies per lb., ours,” said he, “ will bring shillings.” I was exceedingly sorry that they were not ripe enough for me to test their flavour. I would then have been able to have written more authoritatively on the subject. The fruit garden is surrounded by -very high stone walls, and every sunny spot is utilised to the best advantage. A place for everything and everything in its place, is evidently the motto in vogue here.- There were special greenhouses for every kind of fruit, and the healthy appearance of the most rare shrubs was remarkable to even an amateur such as I was. I found out that my guide was not only a famous gardener, but editor of several books on gardening, and is considered one of the greatest horticulturists in Great Britain. His style of speaking reminded me very much of Mr Waugh, our own gardener. I am not a rich man, but I would willingly have given LI to hear these two old warriors together for an hour, with the privilege of taking notes. He next showed me what he called his orchard house. This is 500 feet long, with a line of rails running down the centre. This ss said to be the largest glass house in the world. Bruits were to be seen in ail stages of growth, to keep up a regular succession for the table—peaches, plums, pears, figs, &c. There are 3000 feet of 4 inch pipes in this greenhouse, heated by two boilers, one at each end, the smoke of which, together with all that from the heating apparatus used in the grounds, and the furnaces in the kitchen of the castle, is taken underground to a smoke stack three-quarters of a mile from the castle, and it comes out in the middle of a forest. The air is therefore kept perfectly pure and clear. They had all kinds of tropical fruits growing, from pine apples up to 101 b each. The Avater supply for these gardens and grounds is brought from a stream 400 feet above them. It is run into a lake 200 feet above the gardens, and subjected to the rays of the sun, and is then ready for use. They have an unlimited supply, and must use a great deal. I have sufficient notes to supply another column —the fern house is in itself Avortby of that space —but I cannot close Avithout thanking Mr Thomson for his kindness, and should I ever meet his nephew, avlio is someAvhere in Hew Zealand, I Avill do my best to reciprocate the kindness I have received at his uncle’s hands. I must add that all the head factors (or overseers, as we call them) connected Avith this immense estate of a quarter of million acres, haA r e beautiful houses to live in, Avith nicely kept grounds, equal to the very best to be found in our oavu land ; that they have their carriages and liveried servants, and generally have a good time.

As we drove away from tlie castle we passed a magnificent drag with coachman, footman, and butler all in beautiful lively, preparing lunch, while a little further on we suav a party of ladies and gentlemen —the lucky OAvners —“ sitting under the green Avood trees” enjoying themselves, while these preparations Avere going on, by singing selections from the popular operas, and in justice to them 1 must say they did extremely well. Their A'oices blended admir■ably, and they possessed among their number a lovely soprano and a fine robust baritone I bad a good opportunity /to hear them, as opposite where they were sitting was a nice clear spring of water Avhich ran into

a trough under some trees, set there for the purpose, and our horse had a good drink. I Avas told aftemvards that this party was that of Mr Carnegie, who gained such notoriety in connection with th e Homestead strikes in America last year, Ibis, I am informed, is his favourite way of passing part of the summer months travelling through England and Scotland. To a romantic mind Avith an eye for the beautiful in nature, there is no Avay I could suggest better suited for pure enjoyment than the above. We get from about this spot a sight of the Dalreen Pass, and the Lowther Hills, made memorable by the persecution of Claverhouse, and where many CoAmnanters lost their lives in defence of their religion. The pretty homestead of Durisdeer is seen nestling among the heather hills. It is the old home of the Browns, the Avell-knoAvn skin merchants of Invercargill, Matanra, and Dunedin. I travelled down into the valley of the Hith, and over the same ground that Burns had travelled many a time, and felt the west wind bIoAV on my cheek, which the poet has immortalised in the lines commencing “ Of a’ the airts the wind can bIaAV, I dearly loe’ the Avest.” He Avas on his Avay to see his Jean, and the fervour of the lines can Avell he excused. The road crosses the Hith and runs close to a huge raihvay embankment. It Avas here that some 200 years ago the then Duke had a deer park constructed on the hillside in such a way that deer could leap into it, but once in they could not get out again. Cattle sometimes entered it and of course could not find their way out either. Although only three days in this charming and romantic locality, through the kindness of my friends and their knoAvledge of every inch of the country, I saw more of this district in that time than an ordinary tourist would in a fortnight. The country here presents the appearance of a great park, and such it practically is, as every fence and every tree in this estate is looked after by the Duke’s Avoodmen, Avho keep eA T erything in apple pie order. Hot a loose stone and hardly a leaf is alloAved to lie on the roads. The Aveather, Mr Dobie told me, had not been so good from the time I left the place, over 33 years before, so I Avas exceptionally fortunate. The summer before, he said, Avas a most miserable, Avet one —so had Avas it that several farmers Avere for throAving up their farms in disgust. Luckily for them the Aveather had not been so dry this season as it Avas near London, and I saw seA r eral fine crops of hay, and Mr Dohie had the best crop of turnips I suav in all the country-side. A note of the manure he uses to produce this crop Avill no doubt he of seiwice to our farmers, and I produce it here : 9 cwt. superphosphate, 5 cwt. bonemeal, 4 cwt. kannit, 2 CAvt. ground nitre. AA r erage cost, 5s per cwt. This is soAvn on the top of a liberal supply of farm yard manure. I spent my mornings here out shooting crows and pigeons Avith a most ancient musket, a converted flint gun of the time of good Queen Bess’ time. I did not do much execution, for the simple reason that the crows had a most decided objection to he shot at, and kept a respectful distance from “HeAV Zealand ” (the name I Avent by), hut I did some good—“ I frightened them aAvay from the turnips.” I, oddly enough, never met Avith one Hoav Zealander from the time I left Melbourne till I got back to Auckland. Mr Mabin, late of Sunnyside, Avas in the locality someAvhere, but I did not see him. Mr Gilkison and the MacKays, of Mabel Busb, were in the Highlands, Avhile I was in the Lowlands. Mr Thomson and Mr John Kingsland were in the “ little village” the day of the Duke of York’s marriage, but I did not see either of them. And I might have been in London every day for six months and never have crossed either of their paths, unless I had knoAvn of their addresses, and made appointments to meet them. Thus I was practically alone all the time. I am simply stating a fact, but not to grumble at it, as the family I Avas

with did all in their power to make my stay in Scotland agreeable, and before I left I found out that I was related to them on my mother’s side. Truth, they say, is stranger than fiction, and here was an instance of it. But time was pressing, and I had reluctantly to leave my pleasant quarters. I took a night train for Glasgow, my remarks on which 1 will reserve for another chapter.