CULZEAN 



fine sheet of water so as to develop the natural 

 character of hardy exotics set free in a Scottish 

 environment. It would take much space to describe 

 the many objects of interest in this wide demesne. 

 Mention may be made of the luxuriant growth of 

 tree-ferns (Dicksonia antarctica), many of which are 

 six and eight feet high with far-spreading fronds. 

 It is to be hoped that some enterprising nurseryman 

 will set himself to propagate these noble cryptogams, 

 which are far hardier than many people suppose, 

 though very impatient of exposure to burning sun 

 and high winds. The supply is severely limited at 

 present, owing to the timely and commendable action 

 of the New Zealand Government in prohibiting the 

 exportation of these ferns, which were in danger of 

 being exterminated by collectors. 



Many of the bamboos in this wild garden flowered 

 themselves to death in the summers of 1905 and 

 1906, notably Arundinaria simoni, but many hundreds 

 of seedlings have been raised to take their place, albeit 

 it requires some trouble to protect from small birds 

 the sweet grain produced by these giant grasses. 



One specially beautiful shrub claims notice before 

 leaving a glade set with Cordyline and tree ferns, to 

 wit, Myrtus (Eugenia) apiculata. Fully seven feet high, 

 set with panicles of bell-shaped fragrant blossoms, 

 like rose-tinted ivory, the question which naturally 

 suggests itself is, why is such a charming shrub, 

 flowering in August and September, not more commonly 



planted ? 



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