STIRLING AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. 67 



of the Forth ; and its shelter by the Ochil and Perth hills on the 

 north and north-east, and the Tough hills on the south-west — 

 which secure for it an equable climate and freedom from the 

 great rainfall of the west coast — all contribute to foster plant life. 



There is reason for believing that this district bordered on the 

 ancient Caledonian forest, the remains of gigantic timber having 

 been frequently found in the moss and clay lands of Blair- 

 drummond. 



The part of the district which is richest in botanical specimens 

 could be explored in one of our summer excursions, and with the 

 view of inducing the Society to visit it I shall enumerate the prin- 

 cipal plants I have gathered there — particularly those which are 

 rare or unknown in the Clydesdale district — and shall indicate the 

 places where they should be looked for. 



The route should be by the west side of the town, round the 

 castle rock, along the Gowlin hills, and out to the Abbey Craig; 

 returning, if time permitted, by the banks of the Forth and Cam- 

 buskenneth Abbey. On leaving the railway station we cross the 

 town by the Arcade and Corn Exchange on to the Back Walk, 

 where our botanising begins. Turning northward, we find on the 

 rocks and nooks by the side of the path Smyrnium Olusatrum 

 (Alexanders), not common in either England or Scotland. It is 

 oftenest found about old castles and mansions, probably from its 

 having been cultivated in former times as a pot herb. Peucedanum 

 Ostruthiu?7i (masterwort) grows in the wooded slope here, but it 

 is scarce. Lamium album (white dead-nettle) abounds along the 

 Back Walk. Ornithogalum umbellatum (star of Bethlehem) may 

 be found in the wood above the Smith Institute, but there are 

 only a very few plants of it, and it is more plentiful near an old 

 mill on the banks of the Forth about a mile and a half up from 

 Stirling. 



Here the Smith Institute might be visited. It contains a 

 capital picture gallery and museum of antiquities and natural 

 history specimens. In the garden there the late Mr. Croll, 

 curator, who was an accomplished botanist, had a rare collection 

 of wild plants, which it is hoped may still be preserved. 



Centum maculatum (hemlock), Caucalis Anthriscus (hedge 

 parsley), Chcerophyllum temulum (rough chervil), and Myrrhis 

 odorata (sweet cicely), are all plentiful by the side of the walk. 



