SPANISH CHESTNUTS IN SCOTLAND. 



53 



No. 1. Next the turnpike road, 23 feet 8 inches. 

 No, 2. The centre tree, 35 feet 4 inches. 

 No. 3. Nearest the mansion, 28 feet. , 

 The soil is fine, rich, loamy, and stiffish, upon a subsoil of blue 

 shaley gravelly stone. 



One of the largest Spanish chestnuts in the north of Scotland 

 is, we believe, at Castle Leod, near Strathpeff'er (Eoss-shire) ; but 

 unfortunately we have not yet been able to secure accurate details 

 of its present measurements and condition, but in 1875 it girthed 

 26 feet 4 inches at 3 feet from the ground. * In the southern 

 counties of Scotland fine old specimens are to be seen at Terregles 

 and Saint Mary's Isle, and in other parts of Dumfries and Kirk- 

 cudbrightshire. 



From information kindly afforded by Mr Maxwell Witham of 

 Kirkconnell, New Abbey, Dumfriesshire, we are able to give 

 exact data as to age and present measurements of some fine old 

 Spanish chestnuts growing on that estate. Under date 8th May 

 1878, Mr Maxwell Witham writes — " We have in the policies here, 

 close to the house, some fine Spanish chestnuts. The seed was 

 sent over from Spain, either by the grandfather of Mr Maxwell 

 Witham, or by his friend and fellow-Jacobite, Sir Edward Gas- 

 coigne, between 1746 and 1748." The gentleman referred to, 

 James Maxwell of Kirkconnell, took an active part in the rebellion 

 of 1745, and became an officer in the Pretender's service, and as 

 such, " an eye-witness of the greatest part of what happened 

 in the field." After Culloden, he escaped to France, and while 

 residing at St Germains for three years after 1745, he drew up a 

 " Narrative of Charles, Prince of Wales' Expedition to Scotland in 

 the year 1745" {vide Maitland Club) ; and in 1750 he ventured to 

 return to Scotland. It was during his absence at St Germains that 

 the chestnuts referred to were sent over, either by himself, or by 

 Sir Edward Gascoigne, from Spain, as a letter extant in the family 

 clearly shows ; and the following are now the dimensions of 

 those trees, taken in May 1878, for the purpose of this paper : — 



* Since this article was written we have ascertained the iliiaensions of this 

 tree to have been in January 1879 = 22^ feet girtli at 1 foot, and 19^ feet at 5 

 feet, from ground. — K. H. 



