growing at the Whim, in Peeblesshire. 



251 



under portions of the primary substems proceed from the ground 

 in a uniform sloping direction from the main stem, one would 

 be apt to suppose them seedling trees; as the tops of all of them 

 have assumed that appeai'ance. Perhaps the most remarkable 

 feature in this tree is, that some of the branches which proceed 

 both from the main trunk and also from the lower part of the 

 primary substems, when in contact with the ground, root, and 

 send up their extremity in the form of a young tree. That 

 portion of the branch between the stem and the ground, some- 

 times several feet in length, does not appear to increase in 

 diameter after the extremity has rooted (as exhibited mjig. 88., 

 to a scale of 2 in. to 4 ft.), unless it has rooted close to the 

 main stem. If the horizontal branches do increase in diameter, it 

 is in a proportion not easily ascertained ; as some branches which 

 I remarked, proceeding both from the main trunk and from 

 primary substems, varied from 2 ft. to 6 ft. in length, and from 

 half an inch to 2 in. in diameter. Their extremities, when rooted 

 in the ground, assume the appearance of stems, varying from 

 6 in. to 2 ft. in circumference; the latter being united to the 

 main stem with the greatest diameter of the horizontal branch 

 mentioned (2 in., as shown in^. 88.) The branches proceed- 

 ing from the primary substems have also branches equally 

 healthy with themselves proceeding from them, and with every 

 appearance of their producing others, which, if allowed room, 

 may in course of time cover the whole Wilderness. That portion 



