DESTRUCTIOX CAUSED THEREBY TO WOODS AND TREES. 85 



Kinnaird district of Forfarshire consist chiefly of Picea. pedinata 

 (silver fir), Ahies eoxelsa (spruce), Pinus sylvestris (Scots fir), and 

 others of the evergreen species, whose heavy foliage and large 

 branches permitted the wind to take such a grasp of them that 

 they were blown down with irresistible fury, killing and dam- 

 aging in their fall many other healthy and valuable timber trees 

 and specimen shrubs within their compass. At Dunipace House, 

 Larbert, Stirlingshire, the largest beech tree in a row was over- 

 turned. It girthed at three feet from the ground fifteen feet, and 

 other handsome old trees suffered severely in limb and displace- 

 ment. At Lanrick, near Doune, 4561 trees were prostrated, many 

 being fine healthy spruce, larch, and Scots fir. At Arden, Loch- 

 lomond, the gale was severely felt, and fully 1000 trees suc- 

 cumbed ; and at Boquhan and Garden, Stirlingshire, the loss is 

 irreparable, many fine old specimen trees and hard-wooded 

 veteran landmarks in the properties having been completely 

 wrecked. At Blair-Drummond, Perthshire, many fine specimen 

 ornamental trees perished. Several of the largest silver firs, 

 larches, and poplars fell, besides numerous Scots firs and beeches 

 of large dimensions, although not the largest in the park. Merci- 

 fully these have been spared. The following note of the dimen- 

 sions of some of the trees blown over maybe given: — Silver 

 firs, girthing at 3 feet from the ground, from 10 feet to 11 feet 

 6 inches and 12 feet 1 inch ; Scots firs, 9 feet in girth ; larch, 

 from 9 feet 2 inches to 12 feet; beeches, from 11 feet 9 inches 

 to 12 feet; and poplars, 12 feet 4 inches. At Keir, Stirling- 

 shire, the well-known magnificent specimen Araucaria imhri- 

 cata, the finest in Scotland, was overturned by the gale. It was 

 48 feet 9 inches in height, and girthed 7 feet 4 inches at the 

 ground, and 5 feet 3 inches at 1 foot, and 4 feet 4 inches at 

 6 feet up. The loss of so truly fine a specimen as this is much 

 to be regretted, but it is satisfactory to know that no effort has 

 been spared to restore it by having it again sot upright in well- 

 trenched ground, and properly moored, so that we may hope 

 that it may yet overcome the accident, and be spared to continue 

 an ornament and prominent tree among the many fine Conifera3 

 which form the grand collection at Keir, and make the place so 

 attractive. In the Strathspey and Morayshire districts consider- 

 able damage was sustained, although, considering the richly- 

 wooded nature of that locality, the injury was perhaps less than 

 was to be anticipated. Tliere the strongest force of the gale was 

 felt about 9 P.M. Mr Thomson, wood manaizer at Grantown, 

 reports that he lost about 2500 trees, and these he had at once 

 disposed of to timber merchants, and at the prices current for 

 standing trees ; what remained unsold were used for estate 

 purposes. Very few were broken or twisted, being chietly thrown 

 right over and u})rooted ; with few exceptions they were princi- 



