478 On Howebottom, by Rev. James Farquharson, M.A. 



Scotch Fir, No. 1. Girth, 4ft. Oin. Height, 25 feet. 



No. 2. ■ 4ft. 9in. 20 — 



Birch, No. I. 2ft. llin. A low tree, the branches 



spreading immediately 

 above the measuring 

 point. 



No. 2. 3ft. 6in. Height, 25 feet. 



No. 3. 3ft. 5in. 25 — 



Ash 2ft. lin. 20 — 



Salix caprea (?) 3ft. 2in. 15 — 



Of the Mountain Ash no measurements were taken, as none of 

 the specimens present a tree-like stem. They are simply large 

 shrubs, beautifully oval in outline, and in general rising to a 

 height of about 20 feet. The Hawthorns, spreading their 

 branches widely, are more irregular in outlines and of less 

 height. 



The lesson I draw from the Howebottom experiment is that in 

 the old Forest of Ettrick there was not a stately and uniform 

 growth of large timber. I infer that the ground along the 

 valleys was clothed with a dense brushwood of Hawthorn, Birch, 

 and Sallow, Mountain Ash mingling with these, but flourishing 

 more freely on the hill sides ; while above this lower growth 

 rose at intervals " many a semelie tree," — the Fir, the Ash, the 

 Oak ; for although Howebottom offers no evidence that the Oak 

 is indigenous to the district, remains of it preserved in our peat- 

 bogs, attest that it once nourished as a native in the vales of 

 Ettrick and Yarrow. As to herbaceous plants, Howebottom has 

 produced no rarities ; but I think the present state of its vege- 

 tation shows, that, given favourable conditions of soil and of 

 shelter, certain strong-growing plants, such as Calluna vulgaris, 

 Aira ccespitosa, Pteris aquilina, will strangle their weaker neigh- 

 bours, and occupy the ground to the exclusion of every other 

 species. 



I must not conclude without expressing my obligation to Mr 

 Eeekie, Carterhaugh ; Mr Mathison, gardener, Bowhill ; and 

 Mr Kerss, Shielshaugh, who have furnished me with information, 

 and varied assistance in the collection of facts for this paper. 



Note. — Evidence that Ettrick Forest produced valuable Oak 

 timber is not wanting in old records. Mr T. Brown, Woodburn, 

 Selkirk, who is collecting materials for a history of Selkirkshire, 

 has kindly supplied me with some of the following extracts and 



