Scientific Intelligence.— Botan?/. 189 



tfpinion, which at that time was the result of theory, he con- 

 ftrmed by direct experiments. 



18. Notice respecting the existence of Fraxinus excelsior, as 

 an Indigenous Tree in Scotland. — As the occurrence of the ash 

 and beech in Scotland, in a truly indigenous state, has been consi- 

 dered doubtful, I have been induced to consult the notes which 

 I have been accustomed to write during excursions made into 

 various parts of the country, for the purpose of examining its 

 natural productions. If the subject be considered of any im- 

 portance, perhaps the following facts, extracted from the notes 

 of three journeys, may be found worthy of a place in the 

 Journal. The beech I have no where seen wild in Scotland ; 

 but the ash I find marked as frequently as most of our native 

 trees, excepting the birch, the alder, the oak, and the hazel. 

 The passages that refer to it I extract without alteration. For 

 two miles above Upper Banchory, there were considerable 

 quantities of Betula alba, Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus excel- 

 sior, Quercus robur, and Ilex aquifolium. In the space be- 

 tween Charlestown and the Pass of Tulloch, there is very little 

 wood by the river ; but at the upper end of the valley, a con- 

 siderable quantity along the hills: Betula alba, Quercus Robur, 

 and Fraxinus excelsior, are the species which occur here. In 

 Glen-Nevis, the trees seen were Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus ex- 

 celsior, Pinus sylvestris, the latter to appearance planted. Be- 

 tween Fort-William and Ballachulish, the trees and shrubs 

 were Alnus glutinosa, Betula alba, Pyrus Aucuparia, Quercus 

 Robur, Corylus Avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus spinosa, 

 Mespilus oxyacantha, Hypericum Androsaemum, Hedera Helix, 

 Lonicera Periclymenum, &c. At Cladach, on Lochawe : Cory- 

 lus Avellana, Quercus Robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus Pa- 

 dus, Betula alba, Mespilus oxyacantha. In the Forest of Aray : 

 Quercus Robur, Corylus Avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, &c. 

 The woods on Lochlomond consist chiefly of Quercus Robur, 

 the other species which I observed, are Pyrus Aucuparia, Alnus 

 glutinosa, Pyrus Malus, Prunus spinosa. Ilex Aquifolium, 

 Mespilus oxyacantha, Fraxinus excelsior, Betula alba, and these 

 undoubtedly wild. Specimens of some of them also appeared 

 planted, particularly the ash, which is a very beautiful tree, and 



