Fir; but it might have been more appropriately called the banyan spruce, on account of its branches having taken root wherever they have come in contact with the spongy soil. In this specimen (fig. 87., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.), the rooting appearance is seen in a very remarkable degree, in consequence of many natural layers from the trunk, and from the primary substems, having taken root.

This natural layering of the spruce fir has probably been caused by the excessive weight of snow bending the branches towards the ground, and, perhaps, slightly sinking them into it, during some severe season; and the circumstance of the branches being thus held in contact with the spongy peat, for a considerable time, has caused them permanently to assume this position. Being thus inclined downwards, roots seem absolutely drawn from the branches. The tree grows on the surface of the immense bed of peat, as it did when it was first planted, without any increase of soil having taken place; nor is the stem any deeper below the surface of the peat than is usual with trees in other soils.

The depth of the peat soil where the banyan spruce grows is about 14 ft. The Wilderness is placed on a rising ground, which slopes gradually down to a rivulet, where the subsoil appears to be a light-coloured clay. Had it not been that the

88

That

under portions of the primary substems proceed from the ground in a uniform sloping direction from the main stem, one would be apt to suppose them seedling trees; as the tops of all of them have assumed that appearance. Perhaps the most remarkable feature in this tree is, that some of the branches which proceed both from the main trunk and also from the lower part of the primary substems, when in contact with the ground, root, and send up their extremity in the form of a young tree. portion of the branch between the stem and the ground, sometimes several feet in length, does not appear to increase in diameter after the extremity has rooted (as exhibited in fig. 88., to a scale of 2 in. to 4 ft.), unless it has rooted close to the main stem. If the horizontal branches do increase in diameter, it is in a proportion not easily ascertained; as some branches which I remarked, proceeding both from the main trunk and from primary substems, varied from 2 ft. to 6 ft. in length, and from half an inch to 2 in. in diameter. Their extremities, when rooted in the ground, assume the appearance of stems, varying from 6 in. to 2 ft. in circumference; the latter being united to the main stem with the greatest diameter of the horizontal branch mentioned (2 in., as shown in fig. 88.) The branches proceeding from the primary substems have also branches equally healthy with themselves proceeding from them, and with every appearance of their producing others, which, if allowed room, in course of time cover the whole Wilderness. That portion

may

of the main stem which remains above the surface of the soil is little more than 4 ft. high, before upright branches are produced; and it is 7 ft. in its greatest circumference. The stem is divided into several limbs, which run from 30 ft. to 35 ft. in height. The primary substems vary from 8 ft. to 25 ft. in height, and the secondary from 4 ft. to 10 ft. I counted upwards of 30 stems surrounding the mother tree; and 30 ft. was the greatest diameter of the space covered by stoloniferous branches; though in one place a secondary layer had reached as far as 18 ft. from the main trunk. The other specimens, before alluded to, of this form of tree were far inferior in size to the one now described and represented; perhaps owing to the cattle browsing about, and destroying the tops of the young offspring; whereas no cattle could enter the Wilderness to injure the banyan spruce.

Besides the trees mentioned, other anomalies, equally interesting with the preceding, occur in two specimens also of Norway spruce, which had been blown down a great many years ago; but how long I found it impossible to ascertain. The gardener, Mr. Young, has been at the Whim fifteen years; and, during that period, no difference, he says, has been observable on the horizontal portions; but he knows considerable alteration on the upright stems, both as regards their circumference and height. The first which he conducted me to is called the Man-of-War Spruce. (fig. 89., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.) It has four stems differing in height and distance from each other, as represented in the figure; the tallest being 34 ft. in height from the ground. At first sight, this tree seems to derive its principal nourishment from the lower portion of the root, at the extremity of the stem: such, however, is not the case; for, on digging beside the horizontal trunk, several strong roots were found to have proceeded from the under portion of the stem, and these roots spread out many feet, at a few inches under the surface. In the other specimen (fig. 90., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.), roots were seen protruding above

ground, from the side of the horizontal stem; and, when examined by digging, the under surface was also found to have produced roots. In both examples, the original tops had de

cayed close to the uppermost arborescent branch; no doubt, in consequence of their not being able to turn upright: notwithstanding, however, the extremities of both have a tendency towards the upright position.

The spruce fir is capable of being dressed with the shears, in the manner of holly and yew, and made to assume various forms. This was practised, several years ago, on a piece of hedge at the Whim (as represented in fig. 91., to a scale of 1 in. to 12 ft.). This hedge is rather a curious object, as far as topiary work is concerned; but, independently altogether of its fanciful shape, it makes a most impenetrable fence, to all appearance

resembling yew, but of a paler and more agreeable green. Such spruce fir hedges are, I believe, not uncommon near Berne,

and in some other parts of Switzerland. The spruce fir hedge at the Whim was formed, fourteen years ago, with plants 10 ft. high, put in 3 ft. apart; and, with the exception of three left to shoot up for the purpose of being clipped into ornaments, the whole were cut down to 5 ft., and afterwards dressed to the shape represented in fig. 91. The hedge was first cut on Jan. 25., the year after planting; and, as the plants were found to have

sustained no injury, Mr. Young has ever since adopted the same day of the same month, or as nearly so as he could, in every successive year, for the cutting in of the young wood. Every portion of this hedge is beautiful and green; and the annual growths are very short, giving the surface of the hedge a healthy appearance. The soil is a mixture of brown peat and loam.

The circumstance attending the naming of this estate is rather remarkable, and may not be uninteresting when taken in connexion with the whimsical form of some of its productions. The house, as a shooting lodge, was built for the celebrated arboriculturist, John Duke of Argyll; and, owing to the spongy nature of the peat, piles were driven into the ground for the purpose of supporting the foundation. The men employed (unconscious of the duke's being within hearing) were talking about the strange whim which the duke had taken into his head, to build a house in such a place. His Grace, on hearing this, immediately cried out, "The Whim be it ;" and ever since it has retained that name.

Mr. Young informed me that the spruce fir wood, cut from the mossy ground, was comparatively free of dry rot, when compared with wood cut from the drier parts of the Whim estate. This, however, I had no means of ascertaining, except on the authority given.

The planting of trees on such soils as the Whim estate affords should, I think, prove an instructive lesson to landed proprietors who may have similar soils yet unplanted; and much of such land is still to be met with in many parts of Scotland.

The spruce firs described are called, at the Whim, the white American; but I am satisfied, although they assume a somewhat different appearance from that of the common form of the Norway spruce, that they are only a variation (of which we know there are many) of that species, produced by the nature of the soil in which they grow.

It may not be out of place here, to mention that it is said that some of the finest specimens of black and white American spruce firs, about the middle of the last century, were at Whitton, in Middlesex; a place then belonging to the Duke of Argyll. (Martyn's Mill. Dict.)

In the peat bogs of the Whim estate, the remains of some old oak trees exist. The one pointed out to me was observed while cutting a drain through a portion of a bog, when the root of an oak tree was seen 18 in. in circumference. This root was traced to the distance of 8 ft., where the original tree had stood. On clearing away the peat soil, the remaining stump of this tree was found to be 9 ft. in diameter. Portions of it were very hard and firm, while others had much decayed.

Experimental Garden, Inverleith, January, 1837.