25*2 



SUPPLEMENT 



2117 



A. Pseudo-Platanus. Varieties. 415., dele the paragraph beginning "A. P. 6 



laeiuiata." 

 417., add to the paragraph headed " History " 



w The most remarkable sycamores in Scotland are those which are called 

 dool trees. These trees were used by the powerful barons in the west of 

 Scotland, for hanging their enemies 

 and refractory vassals on, and were 

 for this reason called dool, or grief, 

 trees. There are three very large 

 trees of this description still slanding 

 in Ayrshire, all of which formerly 

 belonged to the powerful family of 

 the Kennedys, from whom the pre- g4is 

 sent Marquess of Ailsa is descended. 

 One of these trees stands near the fine old castle of Cassilis, one of the seats 

 of the Marquess of Ailsa, on the banks of the river Doon. It is a noble-look- 

 ing spreading tree, with a head above 190 ft. in circumference; and is raised 

 on a pyramid composed of six steps, covered with turf. The last time this 

 tree was used as a gibbet was for the execution of Johnny Faa, the gipsy, 

 and seven of his men, who, the legend says, in the old Scotch song of Johnny 

 Faa, were hanged on this tree for running away with the Countess of Cassilis. 

 Through the kindness of the Marquess of Ailsa, we have, however, been 

 favoured with a drawing of the tree, the following account of it, and the 

 legend. 



" * The Cassillis dule, or dool, tree, is not so remarkable for its girt of stem 

 as for its wide-spreading branches and luxuriant foliage: in its branches, 

 from 20 to 30 men could be easily concealed. This tree, like other dool 

 trees, was used by the family of Kennedy, who were the most powerful barons 

 of the west of Scotland, for hanging their enemies and refractory vassals on. 

 The last time it was used for such purposes is said to have been about 

 200 years ago, when Sir John Fau of Dunbar was hanged on it, for having 

 made an attempt, in the disguise of a gipsy, to carry off" the then Countess 

 of Cassillis, who was the daughter of the Earl of Haddington, and to whom 

 he had been betrothed prior to his going abroad to travel ; but, in his ab- 

 sence, he having been detained for some years a prisoner in Spain, and sup- 

 posed to have died, the lady married John Earl of Cassillis. It is said that 

 the lady witnessed the execution of her former lover from her bedroom 

 window.' 



" The other two dool trees are on the estate of Blairquhan, now in the 

 possession of Sir David Hunter Blair, who has kindly favoured us with a 

 drawing of the trees, and the following particulars respecting them. The 

 largest is 72 ft. high, with a trunk 17 ft. in circumference at 10 ft. from the 

 ground ; the other is somewhat less. 



' They are in great health and vigour, and are probably nearly three cen- 

 turies old. The date on the old coat of arms of the Kennedys, in the ad- 

 joining court of the castle, is 1573.' 



" Betides these dool trees, there is another remarkable sycamore in the 

 west of Scotland, which grows out of the wall of Sweetheart Abbey, near 

 Dumfries. This tree consists of two large limbs, being divided near the 

 root by a Stone, the largest of which is 21 Ft. high above the wall. The tree 



i red with woodbine, and has a beautiful and very singular appearance." 

 A. COmpedre. 429., add to " Varieties :" 



" t A. c, 5 kevigdtum llort. has the leaves smoother than the species. 



There are plants in the Horticultural Society's Garden, and in the 



arboretum of Messrs. Loddiges. 

 " -* A. r. <> nnuuui 1 loit. — There are plants in the Horticultural Society's 



G den." 

 Before the paragraph headed " Soil, Situation, 6fc>" insert: — 

 " Poetical Allusions. Maple dishes are frequently mentioned by the Latin 



