REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 459 
nigra, Linn; a Horse-chestnut, near old Castle, 12 feet 4 
inches at 3 feet 3 inches on upper side; an Oak, 15 feet 9} 
inches, at 2 feet 8 inches on upper and 6 feet on lower side, 
bole, 10 feet. 
EpinpureH, 6th May, 1899.—A joint excursion took place on 
this date with the Edinburgh Field Naturalists’ and Micro- 
scopical Society. The Mushroom Tunnel (three-quarters of a mile 
long) at Scotland Street was visited and explored with the aid 
of oil lamps, but the result was disappointing. The mushroom- 
beds were few and far between. The proprietor, who accom- 
panied the party, stated that owing to a blight which appeared 
some time since he intended to give the mushroom-beds a rest 
for a while. A similar place for mushroom culture had been 
secured near Dundee. The effect of the blight, which seems 
to have been a parasitic micro-fungus, was very evident, more 
than a half of the mushrooms seen being diseased or malformed. 
The party afterwards set out for the Botanic Gardens, where a 
pleasant hour was spent. Worthy of notice is the Insectivorous 
Plants house, the large blossoms of the Sarracenias being very 
fine. Before leaving Edinburgh our section of the party was 
kindly supplied with a cup of tea by the Edinburgh Society. 
We had only a small party, but the Edinburgh contingent was 
a large one. Mr. 8S. M. Wellwood (Hon. Secy.) acted as 
conductor. 
Eeuinton, 27th May, 1899.—A party numbering eighteen 
turned out to the excursion on this date to Eglinton Castle 
grounds. The road through the town of Kilwinning was taken, 
and continued through the “Corshill,” which was the town in 
the days of the Abbey, and was separated from it by the river 
Garnock. An Elm-tree (on the side of the railway, opposite 
Kenneth’s brickwork) which has corky excrescences on many of 
its branches, was examined. Within the policies a number of 
trees was measured. Mr. John Renwick has prepared a useful 
table (see page 399), which contains measurements of notable trees 
in this neighbourhood taken at different periods. A Beech 
was pointed out with the date 1843 or 1848 carved on it. The 
