ARBORICULTURAL FEATURES OF BUTESHIRE. 67 



formation. The greater portion is composed of larch, with a mixture 

 of spruce and Scots firs. Exposure — north and north-west, with an 

 elevation of from 50 to 500 feet. The soil generally very thin ; but 

 where the surface is of a loose rocky nature, and the drainage natu- 

 rally perfect, larch trees grow well, and are generally more healthy 

 than those grown on the carboniferous formations, or south portion 

 of the island. 



There are several portions of coppice wood in the middle and 

 north end of the island ; but these are of comparatively little value, 

 and the land could be turned to more profitable account if cleared, 

 drained, and planted with larch, Scots and spruce firs. Along 

 Ascog shore, east of Rothesay (carboniferous formation), there is a 

 fine margin of wood along the sea-cliff. There are *also several 

 specimens of the rarer coniferae in the villa gardens here and near 

 Rothesay ; and at Karnes Castle, North Bute, there are a number of 

 fine old park trees. 



Inchinarnock. — This island is of the same formation as North 

 Bute. The soil is of a clayey nature with a tilly bottom. With 

 the exception of a margin of birch and hazel scrubwood along the 

 east side and south end of the island, there is no wood of any note. 

 The small scrub is cut and used as firewood or for fencing purposes 

 by the farmers on the island. 



Great Cumbrae. — The wooded portion of this island lies along the 

 east and west sides of the road leading from the south to the north 

 end, and extends to about 90 acres of mixed plantation, 45 years 

 old, with an elevation of from 50 to 184 feet above the sea-level. 

 The greater portion has a south-west exposure, and the soil (except 

 in the hollow parts) is very thin, with a rocky bottom. The Scots 

 and silver firs have grown best. On some of the poor and rocky 

 parts, the larches are not more than 4 inches in diameter. On the 

 best ground the largest Scots and silver firs average 12 to 15 inches 

 in diameter at 5 feet from the ground. In the college grounds near 

 Millport there are a number of fine araucarias, about 14 years old, 

 averaging from 9 to 16 feet in height. 



Little Cumbrae. — There is no wood on this island, only a scanty 

 herbage. 



Pladda. — This is only a rocky islet. 



Aryan. — The extent of enclosed plantations on the island of 

 Arran is about 1250 acres, of which 800 acres are from 42 to 60 

 years old, and 450 acres from li to 25 years old. With the excep- 

 tion of a few scattered portions of wood, planted within the last twenty 



