med 
I am furprifed to obferve the arbutus- omitted amongft the 
feveral trees enumerated in thefe laws, as it is allowed by Evelyn* 
to be indigenous to Ireland. But it was probably then confined 
to the diftrict of Killarney, where it wafted 
“ its fweetnefs on the defart air,” 
until tranfplanted into our modern gardens. 
From the complexion of the code whence I have extracted’ 
thofe laws, I am induced to think that the church was concerned 
in its formation; for though the primitive chriftian clergy did 
not often exercife their influence in promoting the arts, they 
feldom forgot to employ it in the protection of their property. 
I am the rather confirmed in this opinion by finding a nurfery 
belonging 
' 
~ abounded in them. Vide Nat. Hif. of Irel. by Boate and Molyneaux. Tiaffo fpeaks of * l’alte felve,” 
of Ireland. Geru. Lib. cant. 1. 
I canngt here omit a pertinent paffage in a letter which I lately received from my friend, 
Sylvefter O’Halloran, Efq; “ That different and various fpecies of Fir (fays he) were kept 
“‘ in high prefervation (in Ireland), I know, and every curious man may know, from the bog 
¢ deal ufed in the country for lighting fires, and fometimes by the poor as a fuccedaneum for 
*¢ candles. You will find them of various fmells, fome of them yielding aromatic odours 
* equal to thofe of the moft precious balfams.” 
* Sylva. p. 177. Mr. Leflie, in his poem of Killarney, beftows feveral lines on the Arbu- 
tus, as a native of this romantic fpot, and concludes his defcription thus : 
“© While other tribes but tranfient charms affume, 
« Thefe through Killarney’s wilds perennial bloom.” 
I think it is conjectured by Derrick (fee his Letters), and with plaufibility, that the Arbutus 
was brought from the Continent to Killarney by fome of the monks who fettled in its 
iflands. 
