1886-87.] avd New Zealand Trees in Arran. 27 



tively uniform temperature of this island, and also the in- 

 fluence which sea air is known to exert in adding to sub- 

 stance and size in foliage, it is believed that they are as 

 luxuriant as (the alpine gum much more luxuriant than) 

 those of Australia. 



They are all evergreens, and many of them, especially 

 when the plants are young, begin in mild winters to send 

 forth young leaves as early as February, when their fresh 

 reddish-gi'een tints are very refreshing to the eye. They 

 also continue to gi'ow and look fresh till winter ; and now 

 that they have begun also to bloom, these natives of the 

 antipodes cannot fail speedily to rank among the most con- 

 spicuous forest ornaments of this wonderful island. 



Miscellaneous. — It may be mentioned that a most beauti- 

 ful and perfect Araucaria {A. imhricata) adorns the height 

 in front of the house alongside of Captain Brown's at 

 Lamlash. It is most prominent, being immediately above 

 the head of the new pier. It is of the richest green, and 

 luxuriantly furnished with branches to the very ground. 



The Blackwood Tree {Acacia melanoxylon, South-Eastern 

 Australia). — This is one of the most valuable of Australian 

 trees, the wood being very beautiful, almost equal to walnut. 

 It grows to the height of 80 feet, with a stem several feet in 

 diameter. I had seen and much admired this tree at 

 Gibraltar. A friend kindly sent me seeds from Chih, and 

 specimens were planted this summer at Captain Brown's, 

 Lamlash. The wild olive {Elccagnus refieoca, syn. japonica) 

 has grown for many years, as also the strange Bottle tree of 

 Australia {Br achy chiton diver sifolium), so called from the 

 bottle-shaped expansion above the neck of the stem. 



Though Cantyre forms part of the mainland of Scotland, 

 yet it is connected with it by so narrow a strip of land that 

 in climate it is insular. It stretches for 30 or 40 miles 

 parallel to Arran, and about 6 miles west of it. The fame 

 of the Australian plants gTOwing at Lady Campbell's, South 

 Park, Campbeltown, led me to visit the place. The most 

 remarkable plant is a magnificent specimen of the -lofty 

 palm-lily {Corcli/linc austndis). I had imagined that those 

 in Arran had not their equals in Britain except in the south 

 of England, but this one at South Park is much superior. 

 Its stem is more than 2 feet (24^ inches) in girth. At the 



