OAKS IN SCOTLAND. 



213 



trunk, girthing 21 feet 11 J inches at 1 foot, and 18 feel 3 inches 

 at 5 feet from the ground. It is acknowledged to be by far the 

 largest tree of the kind in the parish and district around. This 

 tree is quite vigorous, and has grown 7 inches in girth at 3 feet 

 from the ground since October 1870. The oaks at Pollok, in the 

 parish of Eastwood, Eenfrewshire, are notable examples, and 

 have been carefully measured from time to time since 1812, and 

 the followino- results of their f^rowth ascertained at 5 feet above 



Ayrshire can boast many fine examples of the oak, and there 

 also it appears to have flourished at a very early period in great 

 luxuriance and forest grandeur. In Galston parish, in that 

 county, good trees appear to have covered the area of the country 

 at a remote age, and many fine specimens exist at the present 

 day. An oak trunk was some years ago found embedded in 

 the ground, about 500 feet above sea level, having a straight 

 massive bole, 48 feet in leugth and 10 feet 6 inches in girth at 

 its upper extremity. Lanfine Woods, Barr Castle, Cessnock 

 Castle, Auchans Castle, Loudon Castle and woods, Auchinleck, 

 and Sorn Castle still maintain, by their many lordly trees, the 

 reputation of the county. 



In Lanarkshire there are many interesting and remarkable old 

 oaks. We may first notice " The Pease Tree," growing on the 

 estate of Lee in the parish of Lanark. It stands in a hollow, 

 originally the outlet of the burn or rivulet, which has formed in 

 the soil and subsoil a deep ravine, or (/ill as it is locally termed. 

 Tlie soil is a medium loam with beds of sand and gravel resting 

 on the usual sandstone, shale, &c., of the coal formation. The 

 trunk of this veteran is now quite hollow, and, at the height of 

 about 8 feet from the present surface of the ground, forms itself 

 into three branches, girthing respectively IG feet 8 inches, 15 feet, 

 and 11 feet 4 inches. Parts of these massive limbs are more or 

 less decayed, and standing boldly out as they do, weather- 

 beaten and divested of their bark, from amongst the living 

 brandies when clothed in their summer greenery, give to this 

 noble tree a reverential dignity and grandeur well befitting an 

 artist's study, and carrying the mind of tlie beholder back through 

 long centuries of clianges and revolutions which have taken place 



