Castle Semple is A fine old place, with a magnificent lake, and extensive woods. Some of the oaks, chestnuts, ashes, beeches, sycamores, birches, silver and spruce firs, &c., are remarkably large. The kitchen-garden, by Mr. Hay, is in his most elaborate manner, with water-pipes in the walls, &c.; but we cannot approve of attempting circular work in wooden hot-houses, on account of the expense, and the obstruction of light produced by the converging rafters. Metal houses, however, are not yet popular in Scotland. The gardens here are well managed, by our correspondent, Mr. Lauder, who has the good fortune to be under an excellent master and mistress, Colonel and Mrs. Harvey. [Editor's Note: (2005) There is now a Castle Semple Country Park - a d Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)].
