' SPANISH CHESTNUTS IN SCOTLAND. 55 



bole of about 20 feet. Its one side from the ground upwards, 

 and the entire length of the bole, is beautifully covered 

 with a profusion of growth of the pretty fern {Lycopodiuni 

 vulgare), which lends an additional charm to the hoary massive 

 trunk of this veteran specimen. The altitude of Castle-Menzies 

 is 250 feet above sea-level. The soil is a light sandy loam, and 

 at a depth of one foot pure sand and gravel are reached. It should 

 be mentioned that this last tree was measured, and is recorded in 

 the Hst of trees taken in 1862, and was then said to be 74 feet 

 in 'height, and 13 feet 10 inches in girth, at 6 feet from the 

 ground. It did not then appear " to be increasing much " in 

 timber, and " several large branches had been cut off." At Gask, 

 Perthshire, there are several very splendid Spanish chestnut?. 

 These were recorded in the Highland Society's Catalogue 

 of 1862, and were then stated to be "six trees in a healthy 

 condition ; heights, four 50 feet, and two 60 feet ; girths, 13^, 

 14, 15, 16, 18 feet 5 inches, and 18 feet 8 inches respectively. 

 Age, 200 years ; soil, red clay ; altitude, 300 feet ; exposure 

 southern, and no marks of pruning." The dimensions of the 

 three largest trees taken on 8th April 1878 are — 



No. 1. Xear the Chapel, a splendid tree, height 70 feet, giith 

 at 1 foot, 18 feet; girth at 3 feet, 16 feet; girth at 5 feet, 1-i feet 

 6 inches. Height of bole, 22 feet clear. 



Ino. 2. In avenue west of house; girth at 1 foot, 19 feet; girth 

 at 5 feet, 17 feet 2 inches. A short tree as regards bole, with 

 huge hmbs requiring propping. 



No. 3. Girth at 1 foot, 16 feet; girth at 5 feet, 12 feet 10 

 inches. 



It will be seen that it is impossible accurately to identify these 

 three with any of those previously given, from the A^agueness 

 of the previous census and catalogue, which is much to be 

 regretted. 



Dr Walker mentions, in 1789, some very large chestnut trees 

 at Lord Gray's house at Kinfauns, in Perthshire ; he does not, 

 however, give any details regarding them, beyond the statement 

 that the largest of them had been cut down in October 1760, and 

 measured 22 feet 8 inches in circumference. This tree, he adds, 

 was supposed by the proprietor to be above 200 years old. All 

 the branches had leaves and fruit upon them the year it was cut, 

 though the trunk was found entirely decayed. One of these 

 trees still exists at Kinfauns, and appears healthy, though it has 

 been a good deal damaged during late years, having lost two of 

 its limbs from high winds. It grows below the castle, and is 

 covered with ivy ; the soil is a light loam, and the subsoil a 

 gravelly clay. The altitude of the site is about 100 feet above 

 sea-level. It measured in October 1877, — 17 feet, at 1 foot from 

 the ground, 15 feet, at 5 feet, and 13 feet 6 inches, at 15 feet 



