Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion. 33 



August 17 th. — The morning was very showery and unpromising, 

 and, in place of visiting Portnahavon as had been proposed, we pro- 

 ceeded along the shore to Bowmore, and thence round Laggan point 

 as far as tho mouth of the river Laggan, along the banks of which we 

 botanized as far as the bridge. The piscatorial members of the party 

 considered the day peculiarly favourable for enjoying the luxury of a 

 nibble; but their success was not so greatas they anticipated, and, 

 as usual, this was attributed to some fault on the part of the river and 

 the fish. One of tho ,party expatiated in glowing terms on the modo 

 in which he hooked a salmon, described his excitement on the occa- 

 sion, and all the emotions which -arise in the bosom of one whose fly, 

 for tho first time in its existence, has been honoured by the grasp of 

 so noble a visitor. But unfortunately this splendid animal preferred 

 living in its native river, even with the appendage of a hook and a 

 broken lino, to tho pleasure of contributing to the repast of a hungry 

 botanical party. Some sea-trout, river-trout, and parr were taken, 

 but even Parn ell's prepared minnow, or minnow -persuader, as it was 

 called, though wielded most dexterously by the Doctor himself, failed 

 to procure a large supply, and we looked in vain for the salmon which 

 he had promised for dinner. 



On the shore near Bowmore we met with tho usual maritime plants, 

 as Aster Tripolium, Plantago maritima and Coronopus, Salicornia 

 herbacea (the erect form), and Juncus compressus. Great quantities 

 of Zostera marina had been thrown on shore by the waves, and wero 

 used as manure by the farmers, along with sea weeds. This plant 

 has been employed for various purposes ; among others, it has been 

 recommended in a dry state as a stuffing for beds and cushions. At 

 Laggan point fine cliffs occur, but they are not productive, being 

 covered chiefly with Pyrethrum maritimum, Armeria maritima, Coch- 

 learia officinalis, and some grasses. Beyond this point the shore 

 becomes sandy, and is covered with bent. A little way inland, boggy 

 ground occurs, in which the three species of Drosera, Rhynchospora 

 alba, Utricularia minor, Menyanthes trifoliata, and other marshy 

 plants are found. This boggy ground, like that near Kilchoman, was 

 in many places very wet, and resembled, in that respect, the bogs 

 which occur in Ireland, such as those of Cunnemara in Galway. The 

 peat is of excellent quality, and is used extensively for fuel. 



Much might be dono to improve this peaty soil, by paring, burning, 

 draining, and the admixture of sand, which is abundant in the neigh- 

 bourhood. In cases where draining could not be easily accomplished 

 at once from the nature of the level, the system of colmation, as pursued 

 in Italy, might be practised, so as to deposit soil on tho surface of the 

 peat, and by thus raising its level enable draining to bo afterwards 

 undertaken with success. * The introduction of Dactylis cajspitosa 



* Carte Idoauliche dclla Vallo de Chiana, con un saggio sulla storia del suo bonifica- 



Vol. II.— No. 1. 3 



