1883.] EDINBVBGH BOTANICAL SOCIETY. Ul 



EDINBURGH BOTANICAL SOCIETY. 



T the November meeting of the Edinburgh Botanical Society, a 

 large stern about six feet long of Pliormiwii tenax, the New 

 Zealand Flax, grown at North Eonaldshay, one of the Orkney 

 Islands, was exhibited by Mr. William Traill, M.D., of Woodwick. The 

 seeds sown there in the open air had ilowered and ripened three 

 times, viz., in 1879, in 1881, and in the present year in the begin- 

 ning of July. In New Zealand this plant is said mostly to flower only 

 in the third year. 



The liev. David Lands, borough of Kilmarnock, also reported to the 

 same meeting on the growth of half-hardy plants in the Island of 

 Arran, Buteshire. The Peppermint tree {Eucalyptus amydalina of 

 Tasmania), the tallest tree in the world, grows at two places in Arran. 

 The specimen at Cromla, Corrie, is 22 ft. in height and 93 ft, 8 in. 

 in girth five feet from the ground. The Blue Gum {E. globulus) 

 grows at Lamlash as well as the White Gum {E. coriacea, and the 

 Cider Gum {E. gunuii). The Victoria Palm grows luxuriantly at 

 Cromla; Corrie, of three species ; Cordylinc indroisa ; C. Audralis 

 and C. Veitchii. The Black Wood of AMsiidlidi (Acacia melanoxylon) 

 flourishes at Cromla, Corrie ; so does the Feather-leaf, or Black Wattle 

 {Acacia, decurrens), and the Norfolk Island Pine at Lamlash. 3 



One of the prominent scenic effects of the month in the Edinburgh 

 Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Mr. Lindsay, the Curator, reported had 

 been the autumn tints. The most beautiful were those of Acer sac- 

 charinum, A.rubrum, A. monspessulanura,A. Lohie, and the varieties 

 of A. pseitdo-platanus, Quercus ruhra, Q. conferia, Pyrus aria, and 

 P. vestita, Salishoria Beech, and Tulip tree, Ampelopsis, Azaleas, 

 Mahoneas, and Weigelias, &c. Amongst herbaceous plants Saxifraga 

 purpurascens and Funhia siefolitii were most striking. A few ever- 

 greens also showed rich colouring and contrasted favoural )ly with the 

 more beautiful but shorter-lived deciduous coloured leaves, amongst 

 such may be mentioned Cryptomcria elegans, Thuja clcgantisnona, 

 and Durea, golden and silver Hollies, and the various Japanese 

 Eetinosporas. The. season, though favourable for the development of 

 leafage, has apparently been most unfavourable in developing flower 

 buds for next year. PJiododendrons, Azaleas and other American 

 plants which are usually lifted about the end of the month for forcing 

 purposes have not for many years been so deficient in flower buds, 

 Yew, Holly, and Cotoneasts have a fair crop of berries, which are now 

 well coloured. 



