REMARKS ON THE PINETUM AT KEILOUR, PERTHSHIRE. 297 
LIIL—SOME REMARKS ON THE PINETUM AT . 
KEILOUR, PERTHSHIRE. 
By Mr. Lzrrg, Gardener, Balgowan. 
Wue the late Mr. Smyth, of Methven, was engaged in improving and 
planting the muir of Keilour, he thought it advisable to devote a few acres 
as а trial-ground for different sorts of Pines. His land steward, the late 
Mr. Thomas Bishop, entered warmly into his views, and set about а 
selection with great enthusiasm. Не sky-drained and laid out the ground- 
plan of the Pinetum during the summer and winter of 1830-31, and all 
the more common and easily-procured species were planted in the spring 
of 1832, at the same time as the surrounding plantations. The site chosen 
has a south-east exposure, near the top of a hill, about 560 to 570 feet above 
the level of the sea. The soil is of a black boggy nature, and the lowest 
end dips into a peat bog. The native plants are common heath and 
jointed rush in the wettest places. 
The principal end in view in making the collection was to try what 
difference, if any, might exist between the plants raised from foreign and 
native growth, as well as to prove the hardiness of the new introductions, 
The different groups of Larch are from Germany, the Tyrol, and North 
America, and in this country from Rothiemurcus, and consist of Lariz 
pendula, L.microcarpa and L. europea. Of the Fir, Abies alba, rubra, and 
two groups of nigra, the one from Scotch grown seeds, and the other from 
imported seed, Abies Douglasii, Menziesii, orientalis, and Canadensis are all 
represented and thriving, only the latter has been much eaten by roedeer. 
The Picea tribe is represented by Р. nobilis, tawifolia, and Fraseri, all 
thriving beautifully. 
The most remarkable groups of the Pine are Pinus Strobus, thriving 
well on the edge of the peat bog. Pinus Laricio seems to be of very 
different ages ; the largest tree is 20 feet high, and 3 feet 10 in. in girth, 
whilst some of them are not more than 15 feet, but all thriving vigorously. 
Pinus pungens is not so promising. P. ponderosa, pumilio, uncinata, 
resinosa, Laricio var. Carmanica, and var. Calabrica, monticola, Lam- 
bertiana, Jeffreyi, Benthamiana and Pinaster, are all doing well, Araucaria 
imbricata and Cedrus Deodara were planted in 1834; the former is 14 
feet 4 in. high, and a foot in girth. The Deodars were long kept down 
by the deer, but have now got above them, and are progressing well. A 
group of Thuja occidentalis and one of Juniperus virginiana were planted 
in 1842: some specimens of cm are now getting up, as they have got 
more shelter from the other tre 
Mr. Thomson, of parn, ‘bought the estate about 1856, and has 
since been adding many things to the collection. Wellingtonia gigantea, 
a cutting in August, 1858, was planted in the spring of 1861. It was then 
2 feet 9 inches high; it is now 4 feet 8 inches, and fine bushy plant. 
Thujopsis borealis and Cupressus Lawsoniana both promise to do well. 
