Feb. 1896.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. 511 



3. Cromla, Corrie. Planted 1892. Grows at tlie same 

 rate as No. 2. Untouched. 



II. C. HUMlLis (Gibraltar Palm). — The rock is covered 

 with it. The wild monkeys eat the fruit. Planted 1892. 

 Leaves injured, 1895. Died the following year. 



III. CoRYPHA AUSTRALis. — Cromla, Corrie. Planted 

 1874. Lived for several years, but made no progress. 



Planted by Mr. Fullarton at Pirn Mill, west side of 

 Arran. Three years old in 1896. 



IV. Peitchaudia filifeea. — Cromla, Corrie. Did not 

 succeed. 



TREE-FERXS, Etc. 



Arran takes the first place in Britain for a tree-fern 

 growing in the open air without protection of any kind to 

 soil, stem, or crown — not even moss to its stem. 



I. Dicksonia antaectica (Great Bush-Fern of Australia). 

 — Cromla, Corrie. Sown 1865. Planted 1867. In 

 1871, fronds 3 feet by 1 foot -4 inches. In 1875 the 

 plant changed its habit, and instead of producing about 

 half a dozen fronds in spring and almost an equal number 

 in autumn, it nearly doubled the spring fronds, while few 

 were sent forth in autumn. In a year or two after this 

 change, spores were produced. In 1892 spores were sent 

 to Edinburgh Eoyal Botanic Garden, from which plants 

 were raised, one of which is now £;rowincr on the north 

 side of Cromla House ; the original plant being on the 

 south side, and thus in a much warmer situation. 



1894. Height of stem, 2 feet ; girth, 2 feet 10 inches 

 at 2i feet. Fronds, 7 feet 3 inches — from 17 to 19 

 produced each year, forming with those of previous years a 

 magnificent crown of between 30 and -40 leaves. 



1895. All the fronds killed, as also all the frond-buds, 

 excepting one. This one, however, was perfectly sound, 

 and became a well developed frond. By midsummer others 

 shot forth, and the fern speedily recovered its former 

 grandeur. Only one bud, however, was a narrow escape, as 

 one degree more of frost would probably have destroyed it 

 also, and the plant would have been killed. The minimum 

 temperature that the plant will stand in Arran has thus 

 been ascertained ; and in future, in a winter of frost equal 



