468 



Art. CXVI. — Contributions toivards a Flora of the Breadalhane 

 Mountains. By Wm. Gardiner, jun., Esq. 



The plants enumerated in the following list were collected between 

 the 28 th of June and the 19th of July, 1842, on that wild and rugged 

 mountain range which extends along the shores of Loch Tay from 

 Kenmore to Killin, and of which the mighty mass of Ben Lawers 

 forms the most prominent feature, rising to an altitude of 4015 feet 

 above the sea-level. At the base of this mountain a little inn has 

 been most conveniently placed, from which to the summit the dis- 

 tance is reckoned about five miles, and is usually attained with less 

 than three hours' moderate climbing. Once at the top, the toil is 

 amply compensated, if the mist be absent, by the magnificent pano- 

 rama of the " land of the mountain and the flood " that is spread 

 around. There are many fine sights in Breadalbane : the splendid 

 waterfalls at Aberfeldy, Acharn, Boreland and Lawers ; — 

 " Th' outstretching lake, imbosom'd 'mong the hills : " 



the romantic grounds of Tay mouth : — 



" The Tay meandering sweet in infant pride, 

 The palace rising on his verdant side ; " — 



the quiet pastoral beauty of Glen Lochy, and the never-tiring pictu- 

 resque scenery of Killin. But all these taken together fall short of 

 producing such an interest as one feels while enjoying, in a clear sun- 

 ny day, the vast prospect of alpine grandeur from the summit of Ben 

 Lawers ; and the tourist who neglects this sight, although he has be- 

 held the rest, misses what is most worthy of being seen. To the bo- 

 tanist Ben Lawers has additional charms. He seldom climbs it in 

 the prescribed period of three hours, for almost at every step, beauty, 

 in some form or other, beckons him to stoop and examine its charms. 

 His pleasure is not on the summit alone, and therefore to him the as- 

 cent is not so toilsome. He walks, as it were, through a botanic gar- 

 den, each compartment, as he ascends its lofty terraces, presenting 

 him with a fresh banquet of new and lovely forms, unknown to the 

 plains, and as he takes leisure to enjoy them, the health-giving breez- 

 es circle round him. The mountain-bee with its merry hum leads 

 him to many a hidden gem ; and the babbling streams ever and anon 

 are telling him of the floral treasures of their banks. He is diligent 

 as the bee, happy as the sparkling stream. Yet no earthly happiness 

 is without its alloy ; and rambling On Ben LaAvcrs, whether the tour- 

 ist be botanist or not, he vt'ill meet with shady moments as well as 



