58 ALPINE FLOWERS AND ROCK GARDENS. 



flourish here as in their native habitats. . . To 

 give some idea of the extent of the collection, I shall 

 mention the number of species of several genera, 

 which are at present growing in the garden. Of the 

 genus Veronica there are fifty-five species, of Salvia 

 fifty species, Campanula forty-four. Allium forty-four, 

 Saxifraga forty-six — some of the rarest ones as 5. 

 ccBsia, S. petrcea, S. rivularis, etc ; Dianthus about 

 twenty species, Cucubalus thirteen — being the whole 

 ever cultivated in Britain ; Silene nearly fifty, Fumaria 

 fourteen, the genera Ononis, Lathyrus, Vicia, almost 

 complete. Astragalus forty species, Tri folium no fewer 

 than sixty-nine, Hieracium forty-four. It were need- 

 less to enumerate more. The botanist will form 

 a due estimate of this collection on being told that 

 he may see here upwards of sixty species of Car ex 

 flourishing in great perfection." 



This extract shows what a remarkable collection of 

 plants Don had got together, and also how well his 

 garden was stocked with mountain flowers. There 

 is no doubt that the plants of his native hills were 

 fully represented, and his home at Forfar was at the 

 gates of the domain of the Highland flora. The 

 mountains of Forfar and Aberdeen were his favourite 

 hunting grounds, though his wanderings extended to 

 the Moray Frith in the north, and to the island of Skye 

 in the west. So absorbed was he in his pursuit of 

 plants that he lost count of the days, and there is a 

 dehghtful story related of how he turned up at a High- 

 land manse " laden with specimens on a Sabbath 

 morning as the occupants were going to kirk. There 



