'60 ON THE OLD AND KEMAKKABLE 



generally, and many fine Spanish chestnuts are found in these 

 districts. At Ardgarten, near Arrochar, there is a tree very re- 

 markable for its stateliness and girth of trunk. It grows on the 

 delta of the river Croe. In 1867 it was carefully measured by 

 Sir Eobert Christison, and the trunk then measured 20 feet in 

 girtli at 5 feet from the ground, and '' the eye could not observe 

 a narrower part between that and fifteen or sixteen feet higher, 

 where the branches first divide." Examined again by Sir Eobert 

 on 6th August 1877, he writes—" It has lost its stately appearance 

 and shapeliness owing to the loss of some large upper branches 

 by the fury of the gales of late years. Otherwise its foliage re- 

 presents healthiness. At 5 feet the trunk measures 20 feet 8 

 inches in girth, at 6 feet it measures exactly 20 feet, and between 

 that point and its branching there is no appreciable narrower 

 part. It may, therefore, well be supposed that this trunk is a 

 magnificent object. It is the largest chestnut-trunk I have yet 

 seen noticed as growing anywhere in Scotland. Nevertheless it 

 is not mentioned in the Highland Society's list of 1862, or any- 

 where else, so far as my inquiries go." The delta of the Croe is a 

 perfect flat, about half a mile long and as much wide, formed 

 abruptly at the base of a steep mountain slope, by the detritus of 

 the Croe from a mica-slate valley. The soil looks fine and 

 crumbly, and cannot want for argillaceous matter from the mica- 

 slate. The climate, as is well known, is mild and rainy. Mr 

 Dewar, minister of the parish, keeps the rain-guage for the 

 Meteorological Society. The fall in 1876 was 81 inches, and to 

 the end of July in 1877 it was 55 inches, against 42 for the same 

 period of the previous year. Both soil and moisture, therefore, 

 are favourable for the gro^vth both of timber trees and evergreen 

 shrubs. This tree is therefore probably not so old as it looks, an 

 opinion, perhaps, corroborated by the fact that Dr Carlyle of 

 Inveresk, who records in his diary that he paid a visit to the 

 district, does not mention its existence ; but at the same time it 

 should be remembered that he generally took more note of the 

 claret than of the scenery in his travels ! 



In the parish of Eastwood, near PoUokshaws, Eenfrew, there 

 are some fine old and very large timber trees, which have been 

 preserved in record by the present parish minister, Mr Campbell. 

 These were collected in 1862, but do not appear to have been 

 published. Amongst them we find the dimensions and particu- 

 lars of one very fine Spanish chestnut tree, which is still 

 flourishing in the garden at Auldhouse, the property of the late 

 Sir William Stirling Maxwell, Bart, of Police and Keir. By Mr 

 Campbell's kindness we are enabled to give some details showing 

 its progress since 1836. This information owes its value to the 

 late Sir John Maxwell, Bart, of Polloc, whose interest in his trees 

 led Mm to make measurements of them, which in some cases 



