2542

SUPPLEMENT.

A. Pseudo-Vlatanus. Varieties. 415., dele the paragraph beginning “ A. P. 6lacinidta.”

417., add to the paragraph headed “ History:”

“ The most remarkable sycamores in Scotland are those which are calleddool trees. These trees were used by the powerful barons in the west ofM».. Scotland , for hanging their enemiesand refractory vassals on, and werefor this reason called dool, or grief,

\ trees. There are three very largetrees of this description still si andingin Ayrshire, all of which formerlybelonged to the powerful family ofthe Kennedys, from whom the pre-2117 sent Marquess of Ailsa is descended.

One of these trees stands near the fine old castle of Cassilis, one of the seatsof the Marquess of Ailsa, on the banks of the river Doon. It is a noble-look-ing spreading tree, with a head above 190ft. in circumference; and is raisedon a pyramid composed of six steps, covered with turf. The last time thistree 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 JohnnyFaa, were hanged on this tree for running away with the Countess of Cassilis.Through the kindness of the Marquess of Ailsa, we have, however, beenfavoured with a drawing of the tree, the following account of it, and thelegend.

“ ‘ The Cassillis dule, or dool, tree, is not so remarkable for its girt of stemas for its wide-spreading branches and luxuriant foliage: in its branches,from 20 to 30 men could be easily concealed. This tree, like other dooitrees, was used by the family of Kennedy, who were the most powerful baronsof 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 about200 years ago, when Sir John Fau of Dunbar was hanged on it, for havingmade an attempt, in the disguise of a gipsy, to carry off the then Countessof Cassillis, who was the daughter of the Earl of Haddington, and to whomhe 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 thatthe lady witnessed the execution of her former lover from her bedroomwindow.’

“ The other two dool trees are on the estate of Blairquhan, now in thepossession of Sir David Hunter Blair, who has kindly favoured us with adrawing of the trees, and the following particulars respecting them. Thelargest is 72 ft. high, with a trunk 17ft. in circumference at 10ft. from theground; 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.’

“ Besides these dool trees, there is another remarkable sycamore in thewest of Scotland , which grows out of the wall of Sweetheart Abbey, nearDumfries . This tree consists of two large limbs, being divided near theroot by a stone, the largest of which is 21 ft. high above the wall. The treeis covered with woodbine, and has a beautiful and very singular appearance.A. campestre. 429., add to “ Varieties:”

“ $ A. c. 5 leemgatum Hort. has the leaves smoother than the species.There are plants in the Horticultural Society’s Garden, and in thearboretum of Messrs. Loddiges.

“ m A. c. 6 ndnum Hort.— There are plants in the Horticultural Society sGarden.”

Before the paragraph headed “ Soil, Situation, Sgc.” insert: —

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