333 BOTANICAL NOTES FROM ARGYLESHiRE. [November, 



and pleasing short excursion, well suited for an evening's explo- 

 ration after the arrival of the steamer from Glasgow. The party 

 can get refreshed at the White Hart Hotel or Argyle Arms, 

 after which they can easily search those localities in two or three 

 hours. 



Leaving town by Argyle Street and Killkerran road, ten mi- 

 nutes will enable them to reach Limecraigs, an old residence of 

 the Argyle family. Shortly after entering the avenue, the man- 

 sion, an old square building, appears through the fine old trees 

 which line both sides of the approach, meeting overhead like a 

 Gothic arch. The house is occupied as a shooting-lodge by a 

 sportsman, who possesses the extensive range of shooting to the 

 rear, extending about ten miles southwards. The lands surround- 

 ing the house are laid out in pasture, grazed by flocks of sheep 

 and cattle, which give animation to the scenery. Surrounding 

 the house there are fine old specimens of trees, and throughout 

 the park their huge trunks and beautifully formed heads, and 

 rich tints of foliage, are objects of attraction. To one of these 

 I must more especially direct the attention of the botanical 

 wanderer. This specimen stands at the end of a small bridge 

 in close proximity to the house, exhibiting the most remark- 

 able natural union of two branches that has come under my 

 own observation. The tree in question in its early stages has 

 evidently grown forked, that is, with two leading top branches, 

 and after growing in this manner for a series of years, one of 

 them appears to have started away ahead of its companion ; the 

 latter, as if seeing that it was to be left behind, has turned its 

 head inwards and ingrafted itself with its neighbour, and so com- 

 pletely has it effected this, that no mark or scar appears giving 

 the least indication of how it has been eflected. There it stands, 

 forming a complete ellipse of some two yards long, with the union 

 as perfect above as at the fork below. Probably another similar 

 instance is not to be met with in the kingdom, and most certainly 

 not in Kintyre. It is one of those freaks of Nature which seem 

 to put Philosophy to defiance. Immediately in front of the man- 

 sion there is a fine formed specimen of variegated Sycamore, re- 

 presenting very completely the class of round-headed trees. 



A short distance from the house, away to the rear, as you cross 

 the park in the direction of Crossbill, you reach a belt or small 

 plantation of Oak, Firs, etc. There, during the time of flowering. 



