Half-Hardy Plants in Arran. 393 



Western Australia, tlie leaves of which, as its name 

 denotes, resemble those of a Fictos. It is remarkable 

 for flowering when comparatively young, and from tlie 

 flowers being of a crimson colour ; I have also a plant, 

 of the crimson-flowered Iron-Bark {H. leucoxylon var. 

 coccinca), whose flowers are magenta-crimson in colour. 

 The leaves are small and narrow, and the branches slender, 

 so that it resembles a Babylonian willow. The wood is 

 said to excel that of all otlier trees in hardness. I have 

 also the red Iron-Bark (E. sidcropldoia), the bark of whicli 

 as its name tells, is almost iron-like in hardness. The 

 leaves resemble those of the Turkey oak, the veins are red, 

 on account of whicli it is named the red iron-bark. 



This summer I have further, through William Stewart, 

 Esq., been favoured by receiving from Baron von Miieller, 

 Government Botanist, Victoria, seeds of E. cocci/era — these 

 have germinated ; also of E. paucijlora, the white gum already 

 mentioned as growing well in Arran. I have received a 

 similar favour from Mr Bailey, Government Botanist, 

 Queensland, who has sent the seeds of " a rare and most 

 valuable lemon-scented iron-bark" (£', staigeriana) from 

 the Palmer Eiver, Queensland. This has germinated 

 under the kind care of my friend, Mr Gray, gardener, New- 

 field. 



I may add that plants of several of the hardy gums, as 

 E. 'pauciJlora, E. Gu7imi, E. urnigera, and E. coccifera^ are 

 now growing at various places on the west coast of Scot- 

 laud — at Knockdolian and Auchearne near Ballantrae ; at 

 the Manse, Roseneath, and at Ballinakill, Cantyre. 



DiCKSONIA. 



At one time I imagined that tree ferns were remarkably 

 slow in growth, and that no one could hope to raise them 

 from spores, and see them worthy of the name " tree ferns." 

 All such ideas have been dissipated by my experience in 

 growing them in the open air in Arran, as the following 

 notes show : — 



The great Bush Tree Fern {Dicksonia antarctica). — This 

 plant was probably sown in 1865, as it was very small when 

 I planted it at Cromla, Corrie, in 1867. It* took about 

 eight years to acquire its full girth of stem. The stem 



