Effects of Winter 1881-82. 383 



English oak in its qualities, was kindly given me this spring by 

 Mrs Duiilop of Annanhill, near Kilmarnock. I gave it to Mr 

 Crawfurd, gardener, Brodick Castle, by whom it was carefully 

 planted in the High Garden. AYlien planted it was 8| feet in 

 height. It is now in bloom, and has grown about 2|^ feet. Arau- 

 caria Cunninghamii (Moretou Bay pine) has grown for twenty 

 years in Brodick Castle High Garden. It was much browned by 

 the late severe winters, but is again in good health. Araucaria 

 excelsa (Xorfolk Island pine) is at present growing at Lamlash. It 

 was planted this summer by Mr Orr Ewing, M.P. Desfontainea 

 spinosa grows in the utmost perfection. At Cromla, Corrie, it 

 blooms abundantly during most of the summer and autumn, and 

 also in the earlier part of a mild winter. It is 7 feet 3 inches in 

 height, and no severity of Aveather has ever aftected it. Fuchsia 

 microplvjlla is quite hardy, and is in general in bloom till the Xew 

 Year. Camellia japonica and C. reticulata are hardy and occasionally 

 bloom. Escallonia rubra albijlora on the wall at Brodick Castle is 

 y^ feet in height. The following plants are also hardy : — Pliotinia 

 serrulata, Ebeagnus reflexa variegata, Prunus sinensis flore pleno, 

 Alyrtus cbmmunis (a standard 10 feet in height, flowers pro- 

 fusely every year), Euryci latifolia, Berheris Darwinii, Coccoloha 

 vespertilionis, Rhododendron ciliatum, Azalea amcena, Euonymus 

 latifolia aurea, &c. Daplme papyracea, Pittosporum Ralfsii, 

 and Genista linifolia were this summer planted at Lamlash. Three 

 species of Cordyline have been tried at Cromla, viz., C. indivisa, 

 C. australis, and C. VeitcMi, all of which were uninjured by the 

 late severe winters, and all of them are most luxuriant. AVhen 

 they attain their full height (10 feet), and have sent forth their 

 handsome spikes of blue and white flowers, they will become even 

 more striking. The tree ferns which grow at Cromla, Corrie, have 

 quite recovered from the effects of the late winters. Dlrlcsvuia 

 antardica, planted fifteen years ago, when not larger than a bladder 

 fern {Cystopttris fragilis), has now a stem 20 inches in height and 

 26 inches in girth ; while its fronds, which are abundantly covered 

 with spores, are 6 feet 3h inches in length and 2 feet 7 inches in 

 breadth. An excellent plant of Diclcsonia squarrosa, which was 

 kindly given me three years ago by !RIr Gray, gardener, Xewfield, 

 Ayrshire, is also quite recovered, but has not yet produced spores. 

 A handsome plant of Lomaria gihha, kindly given me by 3Ir Lock- 

 hart, gardener, The Craig, Ayrshire, was planted this year at 

 Cromla. Todea siiperha and Todea hymenophylloides both grow 

 very well I received specimens this summer of Pteris scahenda 

 from the gardener at Culzean Castle, which have taken root. 

 Specimens of Trichomanes radica7is (the KQlarney fern) were found 



