EXHIBITION OF TREES AND SHRUBS. 



73 



the Lothian coal measures, with beds of various clays and lime- 

 stone. The soil is of a good depth and generally fertile, and all 

 kinds of hardy trees and shrubs for which it is suitable thrive 

 well in it. Even many of those of a more or less tender nature 

 in this northern latitude are found to do well in sheltered places, 

 and stand the severities of ordinary winters with little or no 

 injury from frost. 



The collection of trees and shrubs has been chiefly formed 

 during the present century ; those of an older date being either 

 indigenous — of which the " Old Oak Wood," covering an area of 

 about 160 acres on the peninsula between the Esk rivers, just 

 before they meet in the middle of the park, is a notable example 

 — or planted forest and ornamental trees. Beside the Oak, 

 Quercus Bobur pedunculata, the Ash, Alder, Beech, Wych Elm, 

 Sycamore, Hornbeam, Holly, Elder, Hazel, Thorn, Yew, and 

 some other trees and shrubs appear to be either indigenous or 

 now quite naturalised in the park, and spring up freely from 

 seeds or from suckers. Of the introduced trees more than a 

 century old, the Limes and Cedars of Lebanon are the most con- 

 spicuous. There are also many fine Horse and Spanish Chestnut 

 trees, some of which have attained a considerable size, and are 

 very effective park-trees. Holly, Yew, Laurel, Privet, Boxwood, 

 Rhododendron, and some other evergreen shrubs have been 

 extensively planted as underwood, and form a feature in the 

 woods and plantations during the winter, when the deciduous 

 trees are bare of foliage. The Holly is in greatest abundance, 

 thriving well and fruiting freely in the warm soil ; it is much 

 used for hedges. 



Specimens of about 280 species of trees and shrubs were sent 

 to the Conference, but there are a host of others of less interest, or 

 of which the species sent may be considered fairly representative 

 of the genus. No Conifers are included, except the Cedar of 

 Lebanon, which is bearing a fine crop of cones for the first time 

 for many years ; and the large-leaved variety of the Maidenhair 

 tree, Salisbtiria adiantifolia macrophylla. 



All the specimens stood through the severe frost of January 

 1894, when the thermometer fell to 4° Fahr. on the 7th of that 

 month. The species that were in any way injured are noted in 

 the following list. Those noted as " rather tender " have been 

 injured by 15 degrees or more of frost ; and those " injured by 

 severe frost " have stood 20 degrees of frost uninjured. 



