‘Nov. 1907. ] A WEST OF SCOTLAND GARDEN. 299 
FLOWERING OF BAMBOOS AT ACHNASHIE.—‘“ It was not till 
the summer of 1904 that any bamboo flowered at Achnashie. 
The first to do so were Phyllostachys nigra and Arundinaria 
Simoni, both in that year; while Phyllostachys Henonis did 
so in the following, and Thamnocalamus Falconeri in 1906. 
Though plants should bloom frequently, the seed fails to ripen. 
At Achnashie, however, seed was obtained from Aruwndinaria 
Simoni in 1905, and in 1906 from Thamnocalamus Falconeri. 
The seed of both has been sown and has germinated; so 
that we have plants of both from home-grown seed.” 
The following notes are given:—First, seed germinates 
more quickly when it has been allowed to become perfectly 
hard and dry. Second, the seed requires considerable heat 
—only in the stove-house does it spring satisfactorily. 
Third, birds are fond of the seed. Fourth, before flowering 
the plants become brown and the leaves fall, causing the 
plants to look miserable. 
Birps OF ACHNASHIE GARDEN. 
“No account of Achnashie and its garden and grounds 
would be complete without reference to the birds which add 
so much to the beauty and enjoyment of the place.’ A Jist 
is therefore given of the birds seen during the years 1900- 
1906, with notes regarding them. These are under the 
headings— 
1. Residents all the year.—A list of seventeen. 
2. Residents seen occasionally.—A list of fourteen. 
3. Summer visitors.—A list of nineteen. 
4. Autumn visitors.—A list of three (siskin, redwing, 
fieldfare). 
5. Game birds.—A list of four (snipe, woodcock, grouse, 
pheasant). 
6. Birds on the shore and on the loch within half a mile 
of Achnashie.—A list of thirty-two. 
Special notes are given of five birds, from which I take the 
following extract :— 
“ Tringa alpina (duniin, sea-lark, commonest sandpiper).? 
Arrives about the middle of April; generally seen at first 
in pairs. During summer parent birds are seen with their 
1 Mr. Wm. Evans, F.R.S.E., says this description applies to the Sand- 
piper Totanus hypoleucus.— Ep. 
