1886-87.] and New Zealand Trees in Arran. 23 



Lindsay has doubted its being the genuine aljnna, and has 

 given me another plant from the Botanic Garden that he 

 can certify. Through the kindness of Mr Murray, factor to 

 the Duke of Hamilton, this one has this year been planted 

 in his garden in light soil, and in a sheltered spot open to 

 the sun almost the whole day. Here I doubt not it will 

 soon equal the one at Corrie. At present it is about a foot 

 in height. The low habit of this Eucalypt adapts it for 

 many places for which most of the genus would be unsuited. 

 Its large and interesting llowers will also be the better seen. 



The Blue Gum {Eucalyptus globulus, Victoria and Tasmania). 

 — Unfortunately, it is not so hardy as many of the Euca- 

 lypts. " In South Europe it withstands a temperature of 

 19° F., but is killed by one of 17° F." At Arran several 

 have been planted at various times, but the severe winter of 

 1880-81, which destroyed all the blue gums in the open air 

 on the mainland of Scotland, killed those in Arran, with the 

 exception of one at Captain Brown's, Lamlash. It was sown 

 in 1874 by James Paterson, Esq., factor to the Duke of 

 Hamilton, and is now 40 feet in height and 2 feet \ inch in 

 girth. It would have been about 8 feet taller had it not 

 been polled to prevent its being blown down by the wind. 

 The girth would also have been greater had not the winter 

 of 1880—81 destroyed all its leaves, and so injured it that 

 more than a year elapsed before it fully recovered its former 

 vigour. It is near to the highway, and well seen from it ; 

 and as Lamlash is greatly frequented in summer by visitors, 

 and the bay is often resorted to as a harbour of safety, this 

 interesting tree attracts much attention. 



The Cider Gum {Eucalyptus G-unnii, Victoria, Tasmania, 

 and New South Wales). — When growing on the plains it 

 differs a good deal from the mountain variety, and is often 

 called the " Swamp Gum," from the nature of the ground in 

 which it delights. " It grows to a considerable height. Bees 

 obtain much honey from its flowers. Cattle and sheep 

 browse on its foliage " (Miiller). A special interest attaches 

 to this tree in Britain, from the fact that at Kew it has 

 withstood severe frost,* At Whittinghame, East Lothian, 

 there is one, planted in 1845, which, though cut to the 



* Dr M. T. Masters notes that it is injured more or less every winter, but 

 produces new shoots from the old trunk every summer. — Ed. 



