PLANTS IN THE VALLEY OF THE GARNOCK. 2A5 



XXIV. 



NOTES ON SOME OF THE RARER PLANTS 

 OCCURRING IN THE VALLEY OF THE 

 GARNOCK, AYRSHIRE. 



BY J. SMITH. 



[Read -'9th November. 18*7.] 



The Garnock Valley is situated in the northern 

 division of Ayrshire, called Cunningham, and occupies 

 the entire parishes of Kilwinning, Dairy, and Kil- 

 birnie, with parts of the parishes of Irvine, Stewarton, 

 Dunlop. Stevenston, Largs, Beith, and Neilston, the 

 last being in the county of Renfrew. It extends in 

 a northern direction from the sea at Misk, to Hill of 

 Stake on the border of Renfrewshire, a distance of 

 15J miles ; and in an eastern direction to a little 

 beyond Loch Libo, in Renfrewshire, a distance of 14 

 miles. Its greatest breadth of 10 miles, from Caldron 

 Hill to Oldhall, is attained about the middle. On 

 the west it is bounded by the high-lying ground 

 north of Stevenston, and Knoekewart, Ladyside, 

 Caldron, and Kaim hills, and on the north by 

 Knock, Irish Law, Stake, and Misty Law hills. Baid- 

 land and Cock Law hills lie in the north-west part 

 of the district, between the Caaf and Rye Waters. 

 Kilbirnie Loch is situated at the north end of the 

 depression in which the River Garnock flows after 

 leaving Kilbirnie ; but it does not belong to the 

 Garnock Valley proper, as its waters flow in the 

 opposite direction towards Lochwinnoch. The Loch- 

 liboside hills bound it on the north-east, together 



