158 ON THE OLD AND EEMAKKABLE 



upproaches to Logiealmond House, the old main approach to 

 which runs through an avenue of lime, beech, and elm, which is 

 perhaps one of the finest old avenues in Scotland. At Inver- 

 ardoch, near Douue, there are some very picturesque groups of 

 old sycamores of large size and great beauty. At Balgowan, in 

 Perthshire, at an altitude of 200 feet, we find a sycamore 85 feet 

 in height, with a bole of 28 feet clear, and 20 feet 1 inch in 

 circumference at 1 foot from the ground, and upwards of 15 feet 

 at 5 feet from the ground. Others of almost similar magnitude 

 are noticed in the appendix, growing at Aliercairny and Castle 

 Huntly, in this county, so rich in old wood and so suitable 

 for its growth and development ; but we regret to add that the 

 largest and best trees have been mostly cut down at the last 

 named place for some years past. Towering above all other 

 sycamores in Perthshire, alike in height and bulk, are those at 

 Castle Menzies, near Aberfeldy, where probably the two finest and 

 largest trees of this species in Scotland exist. They grow at an 

 elevation of 250 feet, in light sandy loam, on a subsoil of sand. 

 No. 1 is 10-i feet 3 inches in height, with a majestic bole of 35 

 feet in length, and is 25 feet 3 inches in girth at 1 foot, and 18 feet 

 4 inches at 5 feet from the ground. It stands in the open park, 

 and is a very noble looking tree.* No. 2 is one of a row" of 

 nearly similar size to itself. It is 95 feet high, with a bole of 

 15 feet, when it divides into two huge limbs, each being the size 

 of an ordinary tree, and it girths round its colossal conoidal base 

 at 1 foot above ground 32 feet 5 inches, and at 5 feet it is 17 feet 

 8 inches. In Septeniljer 1778 this tree girthed 16 feet 8 inches 

 at 3 feet high. 



Many other instances and statistics might be given, but a 

 perusal of the figures and details tabulated in the appendix will 

 be foimd sufficient to convey a generally accurate idea of the 

 diffusion of this favourite tree in Scotland, and it would, there- 

 fore, be needlessly repeating facts, were further extracts given, 

 however interesting and instructive these might be. It should 

 not, however, l^e omitted to mention in detail, those sycamores 

 already alluded to in this report as " Queen Mary's Trees," and 

 one or two others of historical interest. 



Queen ]\Iary's sycamore at Scone Palace stands on the lawn, 

 directly under the drawing-room windows, and measures in girth 

 at 1 foot from the ground, 14 feet 9 inches, and at 5 feet it is 

 13 feet 2 inches in circumference, and is 70 feet in height. In 

 1863 this tree girthed 12 feet at 1 foot up, and was 60 feet high. 

 At about 12 feet from the ground, the trunk divides itself into 

 two large limbs, which were of equal size ; but many years ago, 



* Since this paper was written, we regret to state that, in the disastrous " Tay 

 Bridge " gale of 28th December last, this splendid tree has lost two of its largest 

 side limbs. The symmetry of the tree is, however, little impaired. — R. H. 



