126 
BOTANICAL REMARKS. 
By rue Rev. J. Farquuarson, F.R.S. 
[ ABoUT two years ago I took the liberty of putting some ques- 
tions relative to the geographical limits, and elevation abovethe 
level of the sea, of the Scotch Fir and other native trees, to the 
Rev. Mr. Farquharson of Alford, Aberdeenshire, whose resi- 
dence affords him peculiar advantages for pursuing such inves- 
tigations. The results of his observations, as far as they were 
then carried, were highly interesting, and constitute a Memoir, 
which is published in the 2d Volume of the “ Edinburgh 
Journal of Natural and Geographical Science,” to which I must 
refer those who desire information on that head. Mr. Far- 
quharson has not discontinued his researches; and those rela- 
tive to the Oak, and the stations of some other British plants, 
have just been communicated to me in the following extract 
of a letter, dated 19th November, 1831.—H.] 
“I have to communicate to you a few notices concerning 
those questions on which our correspondence began, and I 
think you may confide in their accuracy: the most important 
regards the Oak. 
* [ think I stated to you that this tree grows here to an 
elevation of 700 feet, and that our plantations of it are Quer- 
cus Robur—that many remains of oak-wood dug out of the 
ground, and constant tradition prove it was formerly a native 
here, but whether the aboriginal tree was the Robur or sessili- 
fora, Y had been unable to ascertain. I have since examined 
carefully the only native tree, of the existence of which in this 
valley I was then aware. It is obviously a sucker, and a very 
thriving one, from the large root of an old tree, formerly cut 
down; and although it does not flower, the leaves and leaf- 
stalks leave no doubt that it is the variety of sessiliffora, 
named the Durmast Oak.—But the indication regarding the 
species of our former native forests, afforded by this solitary 
plant, is now fully confirmed by an examination of another con- 
siderable remainder of native oak, pointed out to me in October 
