Sir R. Christison. 273 



of the yew at various ages, concluding with special appli- 

 cation to the Fortingall yew, according to De Candolle, 

 " the most venerable specimen of vegetation in Europe." 

 Two subsequent memoirs diverge into inquiries suggested 

 by the recent abnormal seasons. And though death has 

 arrested the original work of the venerable author of this 

 new mode of dendrometry, other hands have taken it up, 

 both in India and Scotland, with rich promise. Sir Robert 

 also took an active part in the annual autumn meetings of 

 the Scottish Arboricultural Society, having joined in 1876. 

 Sir Robert Christison's donations to the Museum at the 

 Royal Botanic Garden, especially in the line of his new 

 method of tree measurement, were very numerous. The 

 uniquely beautiful printed labels, done by himself when 

 over eighty years of age, at once attract the eye. His last 

 contribution to the Herbarium, given so late as 7th October 

 1881, testifies partly in German, partly in Romaic print, 

 that the specimen in question of Allosorus crispus, was 

 gathered in Corry-na-Ciste, Ben Nevis, 3250 feet above the 

 sea-level, at the foot of the great precipice, on August 29, 

 1881. This specimen was brought to him by his sons. 

 At that time his strength was unequal to so arduous an 

 exertion. But only two years previously, wlien, in his 

 eighty-second year, he made the ascent of Ben Vrackic, 

 near Pitlochry, without much fatigue. 



Mr Sadler remarks that Sir Robert Christison, for some 

 years past, took a great interest in the growth of certain 

 trees in the Botanic Garden and Arboretum. These he 

 had marked at a certain height from the ground and 

 numbered by means of white paint, hence his periodical 

 measurements of them were always taken at the same place, 

 and duly recorded in a book which he kept for the purpose. 

 These measurements will be continued and recorded in the 

 same book, and thus become valuable for reference in after 

 years. Near the entrance gate to the Botanic Garden, Sir 

 Robert, in July 1861, planted a healthy young plant of 

 Sequoia (JVellingtonia) gigantea. It was then a little over 

 6 feet in height. About eight years ago it unfortunately 

 lost its leader, which was quickly succeeded by another. 

 On having it accurately measured in September last, or 



