CHAP. IT. 



BRITISH ISLANDS. 



87 



tree nor a shrub on the original site. Notwithstanding the ex- 

 ample shown by the arboretum in the Botanic Garden, how- 

 ever, the planting of foreign trees and shrubs still appears to 

 have been but little practised in Scotland. A public garden, 

 to contain fruit trees, it appears, was projected for Edinburgh so 

 early as 1662. Maitland informs us that the town council of 

 Edinburgh, " by their act of 1 5th of March, 1662 {Coun. Rep., 

 vol.xxi. f. 99.), demised to John Thomsone, gardener, for a term 

 of nineteen years, the plot of ground at present called Parliament 

 Close, with the brae or side of the hill, inclosed with a stonern 

 wall ;" and that " ' the said Thomsone was to plant a hedge 

 as the eastern boundary.' This spot of ground, according to 

 the tenour of the tack, or lease, was to be laid out in walks, and 

 to be planted with trees, herbs, and flowers, exclusive of cabbage, 

 and other common garden stuff. Pursuant to the above agree- 

 ment, Thomsone, on the 8th of April following, delivered to the 

 council a plan for beautifying the inclosure, which was approved 

 of." Two walks were to be made, a larger and a less one, 

 from east to west ; and " their western end, opposite to the 

 Parliament House, was ordered to be planted with plum and 

 cherry trees ; and to be bordered with gooseberry, currant, and 

 rose bushes; and flowers to be set along the southern wall or 

 wooden rail at the head of the brae, or brow of the hill ; and, at 

 the eastern end, as aforesaid, a hedge." (Maitlajid's Hist, of 

 Edin-i P' 186.) It seems, however, from a subsequent passage, 

 that the plan for this garden was never carried into execution, 

 and that the eastern boundary of the Parliament Close was 

 let soon after for building small shops. Reid, in his Scots 

 Ga7^detier, published in 1683, mentions very few trees and 

 shrubs. The most rare of these are, the evergreen oak, the 

 cypress, and the arbutus. He says there are the Indian and 

 Spanish jasmines, myrtles, oleanders, and orange trees, which 

 some are at great pains in governing; but he adds, "for my 

 part I would rather be in the woods, parks, &c., measuring, 

 planting, and improving." (p. 112.) Those who are curious in 

 trees and other plants, he refers to the catalogue of the "learned 

 and most ingenious Mr. James Sutherland, Physic Gardener 

 at Edinburgh." (p. ] l^.) It appears by an Essai/ o?i Enclosing, 

 Planting, Sfc, in Scotland, published in Edinburgh in 1729, that 

 there was " but a very little stock of trees, either barren, fruit, 

 or hedging quicksets. One who encloses," continues the author, 

 " must get his quicksets from England or Holland, or he must 

 sow Devonshire or French whin seed." (p. 289.) 



It is fortunate for the historian of tree culture in Scotland, 

 that such a writer existed before him as the late Dr. Walker, 

 professor of natural history in the university of Edinburgh. 

 This excellent man, whose garden we have seen in our younger 



