. Scottish gardens; being a representative selection of different types, old and new . utterunkind things about the climate ofEdinburgh, which has been much thesame, I suppose, for the last thousandyears ; and those who have not visitedthe city may have been deterred from doing so by itsby-name of Auld Reekie, which its inhabitants donot resent, albeit that of the Modern Athens maybe more alluring. In truth, both the climate and theatmosphere are compatible with horticulture of a veryhigh class; for the first is no worse than the restof the east coast, where there is no dearth of fruitsand of
. Scottish gardens; being a representative selection of different types, old and new . utterunkind things about the climate ofEdinburgh, which has been much thesame, I suppose, for the last thousandyears ; and those who have not visitedthe city may have been deterred from doing so by itsby-name of Auld Reekie, which its inhabitants donot resent, albeit that of the Modern Athens maybe more alluring. In truth, both the climate and theatmosphere are compatible with horticulture of a veryhigh class; for the first is no worse than the restof the east coast, where there is no dearth of fruitsand of flowers, and the second is singularly free fromsmoke for a town of 317,459 inhabitants. Edinburghearned its name of Auld Reekie from no internalmurkiness ; it was conferred by a famous golfer ofthe eighteenth century, James Durham of Largo,who, from his home in Fife, used to watch thechimneys of the capital, and, as Robert Chambersrecords, was in the habit of regulating the time ofevening worship by the appearance of the smoke ofEdinburgh. When it increased in density, in conse- 54. PRINCES STREET GARDENS quence of the good folk preparing supper, he wouldsay, It is time, noo, bairns, to tak the bulks andgang to our beds, for yonders Auld Reekie, Isee, putting on her nightcap. And the nicknamewas confirmed and made irrevocable by a later andgreater authority than James Durham. Yonderstands Auld Reekie, says Adam Woodcock toyoung Roland Graeme, you may see the smokehover over her at twenty miles distant, as the gos-hawk hangs over a plump of young wild ducks. i Of fresh air and light there is no lack in modernEdinburgh. One longs to bring back Sir WilliamBrereton, were it but to cause him to recant theharsh judgment he passed upon the city in 1636. The sluttishness and uastiness of this people is such thatI cannot omit the particularizing thereof. . their houses andhalls and kitchens have such a noisome taste, a savour, andthat so strong, as it doth oflfend you >so soon as you
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