300 



Peroxide of iron — — 

 Sesquioxide of manganese — 

 Magnesia and some lime, — 

 Plumbago — — — 

 Carbonate of lime — — 

 Insoluble matter, consisting) 

 of silica and alumina, &c. ) 

 Water — — — 



Near Ealabus there is a chalybeate well. Throughout the island 

 monumental stones, forts, and other antiquities occur. The climate 

 is similar to that of the other western islands, being mild and moist. 

 Plants which will not bear the rigour of a continental climate succeed 

 well. At Islay House many of the more delicate plants thrive in the 

 open air. The garden contains several plants which are interesting 

 both in a floricultural and horticultural point of view. At Mr. Camp- 

 bell's cottage, in the south-east of the island, many fine plants were 

 observed. Rhododendrons there attained a very large size. 



In Islay there is still a great extent of improvable land which might 

 easily be brought into cultivation. Much has already been done in 

 the way of improvement by the spirited and enlightened proprietor, 

 Mr. Campbell, and he has been ably seconded in his efforts by Mr. 

 Chieve, his intelligent, indefatigable, and I may justly add, hospitable 

 factor. By draining, burning, paring, and the application of lime, 

 much moorish land has been rendered productive. We saw excellent 

 crops of oats on land recently reclaimed. Mr. Campbell seems to be 

 anxious to introduce all the improvements which have been suggested 

 of late by agricultural chemists, and I believe that his well-directed 

 efforts will soon make a great change in the aspect of the island. The 

 zeal and energy of his factor, too, are seen in the mode in which va- 

 rious improvements have been carried out in the neighbourhood of Is- 

 lay House, and perhaps in none more than in the formation of a road 

 through a wet peat-moss, which is now in the course of being drained 

 and brought under the action of the plough. 



We commenced our excursion in Islay, on Friday, the 16th of Au- 

 gust, by starting after breakfast for Kilchoman, which is situated in 

 the south-west of the island. We reached this place by the aid of 

 conveyances provided by Mr. Chieve, and at once proceeded to exa- 

 mine the sandy shores in the neighbourhood. The sands here, as in 

 Cantyre, are kept together by Ammophila arenaria, Carex arenaria, 

 Triticum juuceum and other creeping grasses and sedges. Near Kil- 



