272 BOTANICAL LETTERS PROM ARGYLESHIRE. [September, 



If you look for a moment on Black's map of Argyleshire, 

 you will see that this district consists of a long peninsula^ form- 

 ing the southern division of the county of Argyle. It extends 

 north and south. Its average length between Loch Tarbert and 

 Southend will be about forty-five miles, and its average breadth 

 about seven miles. This is the district of Cantyre proper. The 

 peninsula extends however beyond Loch Tarbert some fourteen 

 miles further, terminating at the Crinan Canal. This district 

 north of Loch Tarbert is termed Knapdale, and forms the north- 

 ern division of the peninsula. Properly speaking, the peninsula 

 of Cantyre is bounded on the north by the Crinan Canal, on the 

 east by the Sound of Killbrandon and part of Loch Fine, on the 

 south by St. George's and the North Channel, and on the west 

 by the Atlantic Ocean. Its average length may be quoted 

 roughly at sixty miles, and its breadth nine miles ; its geogra- 

 phical position about 55° N. and 5° 36' W. 



This district is partly hilly and partly level. A chain of hills 

 extend along the centre from the south to the northern extremity, 

 and it is intersected by beautiful heaths, plains, and glens. The 

 district around Campbeltown, the principal town in the county, 

 consists of fine level tracks, which extend along the west and 

 east shores for fifteen or twenty miles, and stands at a small 

 elevation above sea-level. TVie north-eastern portion, as you 

 approach the Crinan Canal, is finely wooded. The north-west 

 and south-west is mountainous and rugged. At the latter point 

 stands the well-known light-house of the Mull of Cantyre, the 

 guiding star of the mariner coming in the North Channel. 



The district of Kintyre proper is rather defective in Avood ; 

 nevertheless some plantations of Larch, Fir, Oak, and Hazel cop- 

 pice are met with, as at Limecraigs, Carradale, Carskey, Largie, 

 and on both sides of Loch Tarbert, which is well wooded and 

 very picturesque. The Elm, Laburnum, Turkey Oak, and Pinus 

 maritima, perhaps above all others, thrive best at these places. 

 Further north the Birch and Oak as well are magnificent. 



This district contains many small rivers, and numerous fresh- 

 water lakes, but not of any magnitude, of which I may make 

 further mention in the course of our correspondence. 



The climate is humid, but generally mild, still visited not 

 unfrequently by severe and stormy gales from the south, west, and 

 south-west. 



