54 Thomas Brown, Estj. (yn a great Oak Tree 



wliolly covered with thick undecayed bark. There were a 

 number of stumps of large branches issuing from the lower 

 part of this entire portion. The upper part of it divided into 

 several massive branches. 



The remainder or lower part of the trunk, for 32| feet, was 

 much decayed ; it varied in shape and in dimensions till it gra- 

 dually tapered to a point at its lower extremity. In about one- 

 half of this decayed part, the woody fibres were straight and 

 uniform in their direction, as if no branches had arisen from it ; 

 but in the lower portion of it, in five different parts, the fibres 

 were twisted and assumed a circular direction, appearing dis- 

 tinctly to shew that large branches had issued from these. Be- 

 low this there was not even the least trace of root. The upper 

 entire part of the trunk was completely immersed in moist peat 

 earth, but around the decayed portion the peat was more dry 

 and scanty. The lowest tapering part of the stem was nearly 

 out of the peat, and lay on the edge of the bog, in contact with 

 a dry gravelly soil of considerable depth, sloping rapidly up- 

 wards from the moss. The tree had fallen to the south. 



Sixteen feet from the upper extremity it measured ten feet 

 in circumference, even although from this portion the bark and 

 the soft wood had been decayed. Immediately below this seve- 

 ral large branches had arisen. 



We could only form a probable conjecture regarding the di- 

 mensions of the decayed part of the tree, 32|^ feet in length, but 

 from its breadth at one part, and from the branches which in 

 five different parts appeared to have sprung from it, it must 

 have been very large. In fact it actually measured ten feet in 

 circumference at the height of S^\ feet from the ground. 



I had this tree examined, separately, by an experienced 

 forester, and by a gentleman possessed of large plantations in 

 England, and well qualified to judge of the value of timber. 

 The former calculated that, when entire, it would have contain-, 

 ed 534 feet of measurable timber. The latter formed even a 

 higher estimate of its size when entire, and calculated that thirty 

 years ago it would have sold for L. 300. 



Since there was no appearance of any root, for the lower part 

 pf the trunk was gradually wasted to a point, it is most likely 



