PROCEEDINGS OE THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OE NATURAL SCIENCE, 
35 
the foot of the Den of Kilspindie. Near the church, 
another plant which has long been naturalized in several 
parts of the Carse, the pretty yellow-flowered Aremonia 
agriminoides, is to be found; while on dry knolls higher 
up a somewhat local plant, Cerastium arvense, is not un¬ 
common. The rough bank near Bait, known as “ The 
Minister’s Haugh,” is rather rich in local plants, including 
Reseda lutea, a near relative of, the well-known mignonette 
of the garden, but taller and scentless; the pretty red- 
flowered Galeopsis ladanum ; the wild carrot (origin of the 
garden vegetable), Daucus carota ; and another plant also 
sometimes cultivated as a pot-herb, the Marjoram, Origa¬ 
num vulgare. Above the haugh the curious fruited Penny 
Cress (Thlaspi arvense), so called from the form of its pods, 
and a rare plant in Perthshire, may be found in fields; 
while on the rocky knolls the beautiful flowers of the 
Maiden Pink ( Dianthus deltoides) give a pink glow to the 
grass. Further on the Agrimony ( Agrimonia eupatoria), 
a celebrated plant in ancient times, is abundant; and the 
rarer Common Comfrey ( Symphytum officinale) occurs. In 
the Den of Balmyre some interesting plants were noticed, 
such as the Wood Geranium (G. sylvaticum), which is, 
however, commoner in some other parts of the county. 
Here, also, though of course this was not the time of the 
year to see them, are to be found the three well-marked 
varieties of the Common Primrose ( Primula vulgaris). 
Another interesting but much more local plant occurs here, 
the Herb Paris ( Paris quadrifolia), which has generally 
(though not invariably) all its parts in fours or multiples 
of four, namely, four leaves arranged cross-like at the top 
of the stem, from the top of which springs the solitary 
flower with four sepals, four petals, eight stamens, and 
four styles. The flower is greenish in colour, and is suc¬ 
ceeded by a bluish black berry divided into four cells or 
compartments, each containing four to eight seeds. The 
Beal Hill was next pointed out as the habitat of a plant 
that is very rare in Perthshire, the Wild Basil ( Calamintha 
acinos), a pretty little plant with blue flowers. Here also 
maybe foundoneof theButterflyOrchids,I?a6ewarfaaaiifa, 
the rarest of the group. Above Evelick Castle, the Petty 
Whin (Genista anglica), a dwarf shrub with beautiful 
yellow flowers, is abundant. In the Den of Pitroddie and 
Den of the Godens (which is a continuation of its upper 
part) several local plants used to grow, though some of 
them seem now to have disappeared. Amongst those still 
to be found are the Hemp Agrimony ( Eupatorium canna- 
binum), which is not found in more than four or five places 
in Perthshire ; the Hairy Violet ( Viola hirta) ; Shining¬ 
leaved Geranium (G. lucidum) ; Cares s muricata; Equise- 
tum pratense, &c. 
On arriving at Perth, a halt was made at Tayside, the 
residence of Mr Robert Pullar, where the party was joined 
by several members who were unable to be present earlier, 
and some time was agreeably and profitably spent in 
examining and discussing the extensive collection of plants 
that Mr Pullar has brought together. Of the plants which 
are classed together under the general name of “Alpines,” 
and which to a botanist are amongst the most attractive of 
cultivated plants, the collection is not yet very extensive, 
as the rockwork which is being prepared for their recep¬ 
tion is not quite completed. Amongst qthers in the group, 
two may be especially noticed as having been formerly 
supposed to be natives of Scotland, namely, Potentilla tri- 
denta, and Tussilago alpina. These are reputed natives 
of Forfarshire, where Don is said to have found them; but 
it is thought that there must have been some mistake, as 
they have been found by no one else. Other noteworthy 
plants in this collection are Penstemon arcticum, Ger¬ 
anium cinereum, Ephilobium latifolium, &c. 
The unfortunate state of the weather, however, com¬ 
pelled the party to concentrate its attention on the brilliant 
collections in the “ winter garden”, which, being in every 
respect “a thing of beauty,’’must be to its proprietor “a joy 
for ever,” and never perhaps more a joy than when the 
pleasure is shared by his appreciative friends. To enume¬ 
rate all that attracted the eye of the botanists, either by 
beauty of form or colour, or by structure, would take too 
long; but amongst the numerous climbers which are fast 
covering the lofty roof may be mentioned Bouganvillea 
glabra, Lapageria alba, and L. rosea; Lophospermum scan- 
dens, Tacsonia van volxemi, and many other plants with 
flowers as different in form as in colour. Of other plants 
that may be noticed is the finest specimen we ever saw of 
Begonia ricinifolia, vfhich is of great size, and one mass of 
pale pink flowers. Mr Macdonald, the head-gardener, on 
whom everything reflects the greatest credit, informs us 
that this plant has been in flower for eight months. 
Another plant which attracted much attention, and led to 
some discussion, was a fine specimen of Musa ensete, whose 
immense leaves of a pleasing green contrasted beautifully 
with the darker and more divided foliage of the palms in 
its neighbourhood. Passing from the “winter garden” 
into the “ stove,” another class of plants compelled ad¬ 
miration; while in the “Erica” and other houses many 
other beauties were obliged to be too hurriedly passed by, 
and at last the shades of evening made the party retire 
from feasting the eye, to recruit, after the labours of the 
day, at Mr Pullar’s hospitable board. 
After dinner, Dr Geikie, President of the Society, in 
returning thanks to Mr and Mrs Pullar for their kindness 
