REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 205 



•ornamental trees and the beauty of the avenues, such as the 

 great Douglas walks — which must be seen to be appreciated ; 

 the Araucaria Drive, where both male and female cones were 

 seen on the trees ; the Yew Avenue, called the " Dead Walk," 

 some parts of which are over 300 years old. A small square 

 ■enclosed on all sides by tall Lawson cypresses has a very 

 impressive effect, and it is said that this was originally laid 

 out to be the family burial-ground. Much interest was 

 aroused in a row of larches, all of which exhibit some peculiar 

 features, as in size and shape of cone and in habit. None 

 appear to be pure specimens of the common species, and there 

 seems still to be much doubt in the minds of even our best 

 authorities as to their true classification. The most remarkable 

 of all the specimen trees at Murthly is that unique individual 

 of the species Tsuga Hookeriaria. Not only is it a glauca, but 

 it has a perfectly pendulous habit, and these two features 

 combine to produce a rare and very graceful effect. No other 

 individual with this pendulous habit is known to exist any- 

 where in the world. The tree seeds freely, but all the seedlings 

 so far have reverted to the normal habit, so that attempts are 

 now being made to propagate this unique variety by means of 

 layering. Lunch was taken in front of the New House, in the 

 basement of which is the estate museum, containing a very fine 

 collection of the timbers grown on the estate, examples of 

 articles manufactured from them, pests and malformations, and 

 many other items of interest to the student. 



Taymount. 



After lunch the party moved on to Taymount to see the 

 celebrated plantation of Douglas fir. This estate is now the 

 property of Mr Charles Murray, but formerly belonged to the 

 Earl of Mansfield. The plantation was made in i860 from plants 

 raised from seed of the Lynedoch Douglas. This was the first 

 plantation of the species in Britain, and has been studied with 

 much interest by many British and continental authorities. 

 Several accounts of the plantation have appeared in these 

 Transactiofts, but it may be noted that the wood was originally 

 a mixture of European larch and Douglas in the proportion 

 of 3 to I. Soon the larch was outgrown, suppressed, and all 

 removed in the cleanings and thinnings. The area is small, only 

 9-69 acres, but in 1919 the volume was 6352 cub. ft. (q.g.o.b.) 



