ON THE FLORA OF TIREE 33 



and is still very slightly raised above its level. It is 

 absolutely unfit for tillage, being almost pure sand." Both 

 sides of the Fhaodhail have a salt marsh vegetation of such 

 plants as Glau.v niaritima, Jimcus Gerardi, and Car ex 

 extensa ; and in the channel there is to be found Ritppia 

 rostellata. 



That the sea communicated with the greater part of the 

 island within comparatively recent times appears probable 

 from the fact that such plants as Apiuni nodiflorum, var. 

 ocreatum, CEnanthc Lachenalii, and Samolus Valerandi occur 

 in some quantity over the island, and that Ranunculus 

 Baudotii and Potamogeton pcctinatus are found in one of the 

 lochs which is now 20 feet above sea level. 



Tiree being so flat, there is no shelter except at sides of 

 ditches and on rocky ledges among the cliffs at the western 

 end. On this account there is an entire absence of gardens, 

 trees, and even bushes, with the exception of a few stunted 

 roses in two localities. The vegetation is mostly dwarfed, 

 but the soil being in great part a mixture of sand and shell 

 lime, gives the fine pasturage for which the island has long 

 been noted. 



With regard to the interesting question of former wood 

 on the island, the Old Statistical Account says : " It plainly 

 appears that wood formerly grew in this parish when thinly 

 inhabited and fewer cattle reared. Frequently large pieces 

 of trees are found in mosses, though now there is not a tree 

 on it." The parish also included Coll, but it is Tiree which 

 is here spoken of. Mr. Maclean writes me in answer to 

 queries on this subject : " There was undoubtedly a wood 

 of considerable extent in Tiree at one time, but the remains 

 have almost entirely disappeared as the peat moss has been 

 exhausted. About fifty years ago roots or portions of trees 

 the largest measuring about three feet in diameter were 

 numerous where the peats were cut. The trees looked as if 

 blown down by a gale, lying sideways about five or six feet 

 below the surface. No trace of axe-work could be seen. I 

 cannot say what kind of wood, but I am told it was hard, 

 and reddish in colour. Abundance of shells of hazel-nuts 

 could be gathered there also." There is evidence here of 

 the former existence of fairly large timber, and it points to a 

 25 D 



