232 REVIEWS OF BOOKS. [Jan. 



A\'hile Eegonia, I'urbinate Be]lflower,.Eaiiuiiculii?, Winter Heath, 

 Ked Avens, .Si)ider-wort, Achimenes, Coronilla, Crown Imperial, 

 A'^eratum, HawkweeJ, Common Flax, Clove Carnation, Polyanthus 

 Xarcis, Gloxinia, Double Trumpet Daffodil, Honesty, Poet's Daffodil, 

 Pelargonium, Double Kerria, Oxlip, Blue Nemophila, Camellia, 

 Heliotrope, Darwin's Barberry, Cornflower, Wild Geranium, Garden 

 Avens, Mountain Clematis, Double Paiony, Yellow Columbine, Jacob's 

 Ladder, Spotted Deadnettle, Broad BelMower, Pulmonaria, and 

 Swallow-wort Gentian. The figures are reproduced with rare 

 delicacy from Mr. Hulme's beautiful drawings. Mr. Hibberd's text 

 is admirable, and the book from cover to cover is a gem. 



oJ ^-^ 



Blowing Down of a Famous Tree at Auchtekgaven, Pkrthshibe. — A 

 furious gale of wind, from the west, sprung up shortly after midnight on 

 AVeduesilay, the 12th Dec, accompanied in the fore part of the night with rain 

 and sleet. A good deal of damage was done to plantations, many trees being 

 Ijlown over, and not unfrequently with their tops lying westward. But, most 

 remarkable of all, the celebrated ' Bell Tree,' near the site of the old Castle of 

 Nairne, was blown over from the very ruot. It measured 15 ft. in circum- 

 ference at (J ft. from the ground, but was greatly decayed, and now lies an 

 encumbrance, tit for nothing but fuel. With it passes away the last vestige 

 of former greatness. The stuut Ash stood probably for 200 years, holding a stub- 

 born shoulder to the blast. Frequently a limb has been torn otf, and now the 

 Avhole gnarled mass lies prostrate. A ring in one of its forks is said to have been 

 i.'aused by the bell-rope in the days of its greatness, from which hung the bell 

 used to gather the inmates of the castle to the festive board, and which, no 

 doubt, was merrily rung to welcome there the 'Bonnie Prince Charlie,' while 

 his ho])eful Highland army rested on the Moor of Thorn near by. 



Pyramidal (Jak. — A writer in the Crarden, says : There is an interesting 

 note respecting this in the journal of the French National Horticultural Society. 

 It appears to occur somewhat sparsely through the south-west of France, and 

 has been much planted in the departments of Haute Garonne and TAriege. 

 Especial mention is made of a tine group of this tree in the ])ark of Verdais 

 (Haute Garonne), and a true idea of the form which this Oak assumes when in 

 full growth may be gathered from the fact that whilst the trees rise to a height 

 of more than 100 teet, they do not individually measure more than 30 feet 

 through at the base. I find that Gillet and ^lagne in their ' Flore Francaise ' 

 mention a variety of Querent rohur under the name of fastigiata, the description 

 .of which accords with the above. Loudon also has it in his llortus Britannicus, 

 giving it as a species and as a native of the south of France, but I should fancy 

 that (iillet and Magne are right, and that it is but a variation of our common 

 Oak. This Oak may be better known to ])lanters in this country than I am 

 aware of, but I do not rt^member seeing special mention made of it, and it seems to 

 me to be such a valuable tree as to wan ant its having a place in every park. The 

 great tendency of our forest trees is to assume rounded, flatheaded masses of 

 foliage, but here we have one which is ap])arently so distinct of form as to afford 

 a welcome and decided contrast. If, as I think it may be safely assumed, it is a 

 variety of the common Oak, its hardiness is of course beyond all (juestion, and 

 it should be looked after by tree planters generally. I do not know whether it 

 .comes true from seed, luit in all probability it does, seeing that it occurs over a 

 wides])read tract of country. It should not be ditiicult to procure acorns of this 

 pyramidal Oak, and perhaps I may be helpins: those wishing to do so by 

 mentioning that the attention of the French National Horticultural Society 

 was first directed to it by ]M. Leo d'Ounous de Saverdun (Ari5ge), who 

 furnished the details from w'hicli the note in their journal was compiled. 



