30 ])k. Balfouk's Botanical Excursion. 



Peroxide of Iron, with sorao Alumina, 

 Sesquioxido of Manganese, 

 Magnesia, and some Lime, 



Plumbago, 



Carbonato of Lime, .... 



Insoluble matter, consisting of Silica and Alumina, &c, 3276 



Wator 



Near Ealabus there is a chalybeate well. 



Throughout the island monumental stones, forts, and other antiqui- 

 ties occur. The climate is similar to that of the other Western Islands, 

 being mild and moist. Plants which will not stand the rigour of a 

 continental climate succeed well. At Islay House many of the more 

 delicate plants thrive in the open air. The garden, however, is more 

 remarkable for its excellent culinary productions than for the rarity 

 of the flowers. At Mr. Campbell's cottage, in the south-east of the 

 island, many fine plants were observed. Rhododendrons there at- 

 tained a very large size. 



In Islay there is still a great extent of improveable peaty land, which 

 might easily be brought into cultivation. Much has already been 

 done in the way of improvement by the spirited and enlightened pro- 

 prietor, Mr. Campbell, and he has been ably seconded in his efforts by 

 Mr. Chiene, his intelligent, indefatigable, and, I may justly add, hos- 

 pitable factor. By draining, burning, paring, and the application of 

 lime, much moorish land has been rendered productive. We saw 

 excellent crops of oats on land recently reclaimed. Mr. Campbell 

 seems to be anxious to introduce all the improvements which have 

 been suggested of late by agricultural chemists, and I believe that his 

 zealous and well directed efforts will soon make a great change in the 

 aspect of the island. The zeal and energy of his factor, too, are seen 

 in the mode in which various improvements have been carried out in 

 the neighbourhood of Islay House, and perhaps in none more than in 

 the formation of a road through a wet peat moss, which is now in the 

 course of being drained and brought under the action of the plough. 



We commenced our excursion in Islay, on Friday the 16th of 

 August, by starting after breakfast for Kilchoman, which is situated 

 in the south-west of the island. We reached this place by the aid of 

 conveyances provided by Mr. Chiene, and at once proceeded to exam- 

 ine the sandy shores in the neighbourhood. The sands here, as in 

 Cantyre, are kept together by Ammophila arenaria, Carex arenaria, 

 Triticum junceum, and other creeping grasses and sedges. Near 

 Kilchoman we found Sinapis alba, Listera ovata, Habenaria viridis, 

 and Gentiana Amarella both blue and white. In the churchyard of 

 Kilchoman there are some curious grave-stones, and an old cross 

 similar to one in the Main- Street of Campbelton. It is said, indeed, 



