66 ARBORICULTUEAL FEATURES OF BUTESHIRE. 



parts is within less than a foot of the surface. The soil is a deposit 

 of gravel or gravelly soil — the remains of the ancient sea beach — 

 and is damp from imperfect drainage in a great many places. Still 

 the trees have grown remarkably well. Though the surface is 

 naturally flat and damp, yet in long-continued droughts the soil 

 becomes exhausted, as was evidenced four years ago (1868), when 

 several fine spruce firs succumbed for want of nourishment. 



The higher portion of the policy woods is principally composed 

 of mixed hardwoods, with a few Scotch, spruce, larch, and silver firs, 

 and stands above the level of the ancient sea-cliff (from 40 to 80 

 feet above present sea-level). The soil varies from a sandy loam to 

 a gravelly clay. There are some fine trees in this portion of the 

 woods. Spanish chestnut thrives remarkably well, and the lime- 

 tree avenue and beech walk are specially admired. The latter, 

 according to the old fashion, is perfectly straight, and of considerable 

 length, and lies betwixt the cliff and the sea. The beeches are from 

 100 to 120 feet high, and resemble a vast Gothic arch when viewed 

 from one end. There are also several specimens of rare and beau- 

 tiful plants in the flower-garden ; and such is the mildness of the 

 climate, that exotics, which are raised in few places in Britain, are 

 found here in a vigorous state. Miss Sinclair alleges that they 

 have mistaken Bute for the tropics, and continues : — " Cape heaths 

 flower luxuriantly in the open air, remaining out all winter, as well 

 as standard plants of the Magnolia grandiflora, which have risen to 

 the height of 18 or 20 feet. Sweet almonds ripen; geraniums are 

 on fire with scarlet flowers ; fuchsias and camellias have been enlisted 

 among the hardy plants ; and we observed two thriving cork trees. 

 In short, it seems that that which flowers once a year elsewhere 

 blossoms twice here ; and what grows 6 feet high in other places of 

 the empire grows 12 in this more favoured spot/' 



The outer and detached portions of plantations to the north, south, 

 and west of Mount Stuart are composed principally of larch, Scotch 

 and spruce firs, and have mostly a south or south-west exposure, 

 with an elevation of from 50 to 500 foet. The soil varies from a 

 clayey loam to a thin gravelly till with a rocky bottom (con- 

 glomerate). Where the situation is sheltered, with a fair depth of 

 soil and perfect drainage, the trees have generally grown well. 

 Where the situation is exposed to the west winds, the trees are con- 

 siderably inferior, the larch, more especially along the exposed sides, 

 being mucli blasted. 



The plantations in the northern half of the island rest on the slate 



