PLANTING IN SCOTLAND. 33 



P. nohilis in Durris grounds. Tlie largest P. nobilis probably in 

 the north of Scotland is at Coul, in Dingwall, which is now fully 

 70 feet in height, but we regret having as yet been unable to 

 obtain the exact dimensions of this tree. It carried in 1872 a 

 beautiful crop of cones. 



As a further instance of the suitability of P. nohilis in tliis 

 country for any situation, the specimens grown at Poltalloch, 

 Argyleshire, may be mentioned. There it has been introduced in 

 quantity, in all descriptions of sites from 400 to 500 feet 

 altitude, and is doing remarkably well in them all. The largest 

 tree growing there was unfortunately blown down in the gale of 

 21st October 1874, and its height was then 58 feet 4 inches. 

 The girth at the butt was 6 feet 6 inches, and at 10 feet higher 

 up it was 4 feet 6 inches ; at 20 feet, 3 feet 8 inches ; and at 30 

 feet it measured 2 feet 10 inches. It had coned in abundance 

 for some years, and from its produce and that of No. 20 in our 

 Table I. thousands of plants have been raised and placed in 

 various sites, and these now range from 2 feet to 8 feet in height, 

 and are very promising. Some are growing in bog-peat, and 

 others in sandy loam, and are doing equally well. Those in peat 

 assume a darker and richer green foliage, and consequently 

 present a more healthy api3earance. The tall specimen referred 

 to as having perished in the gale of 1874, grew at only 70 feet 

 altitude, in a mixture of loam and peat, on a slope bordering on a 

 bed of bog-peat. On Lochfyneside the P. nohilis and other Coni- 

 fera3 grow with all the luxuriance they exhibit at Poltalloch, 

 Inveraray, Strachur, and other places along the west coast of Scot- 

 land, and in these districts the P. nobilis may be, with great 

 advantage, planted far more extensively than it has as yet been. 

 Mr Duncan, an enthusiastic arborist, and proprietor of Benmore, 

 has been recently planting it very extensively in various soils, 

 and at altitudes varying from 10 feet to 400 and 500 feet above 

 sea-level, and the young trees are thriving very well. They have 

 been generally planted in pits prepared for them with a little 

 good soil, and are taken from the home nursery with good root- 

 balls. It is much to be desired in the interests of arboriculture 

 in Scotland, that other extensive proprietors in various districts 

 would follow the examples of Mr Duncan of Benmore and Mr 

 James Young of Durris, in introducing the better varieties .'of 

 the newer Coniferse of such species as have now proved 

 themselves hardy, in quantity on their hill-sides, and in existing 

 plantations. 



Some of the more remarkable instances of the thorougli hardi- 

 hood of the P. nohilis in this country, — independently of those 

 instances recorded from Wales and showing suitability to 

 adapt itself to high altitudes, — occur in England. AVe find, for 

 example (Table L ISTo. 34a.), at Buckden, in Yorkshire, at an 



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