178 ON THE OLD AND REMARKABLE 



as the climate of such situations in the west of Scotland is well 

 known to be extremely mild and salubrious, we may perhaps 

 notice the success which has attended the planting of the beech 

 in corresponding situations on the eastern and less sheltered 

 coasts of Scotland ; and here, too, we are fortunate in being able 

 to point again to instances of formal planting in lines and 

 avenues, which have not only proved extremely satisfactory to 

 their noble planter and his successors, but form a feature at 

 the present day in the district. The beech avenues at Tyning- 

 hame. East Lothian, are extensive and numerous. The principal 

 west avenue is formed by a closely planted interlacing double 

 row of large and well-developed beeches, from which another 

 side avenue branches off about 300 yards apart in a straight 

 line for fully 600 yards, and forms a delightfully picturesque colon- 

 nade of dark verdure in summer. The rides in Binning Wood 

 also, which adjoins the policy of Tyninghame, are magnificent 

 examples of the formal style of planting so much in vogue during 

 the early part of last century. The situation is quite near the 

 sea, and fully exposed, — the soil is light sandy loam upon sand, 

 and in some places clay subsoil, and from reference to six beech 

 trees, the dimensions of which are given in the appended returns, 

 it will be seen that they are about 80 feet in height, with boles 

 reaching to 40 feet in length, and girthing, at 1 foot from the 

 base, in some cases from 17 feet 8 inches to 20 feet 3 inches, and 

 from 12 feet 10 inches to 13 feet 9 inches at 5 feet from the 

 ground. These six examples may be taken as fair representatives 

 of thousands of others in this beautifully and well-arranged 

 demesne. It is to the enterprise of Thomas, sixth Earl of 

 Haddington, that the district owes its present sylvan supremacy 

 over other parts of the county. In 1705, immediately previous 

 to the Union, he entered upon very extensive planting opera- 

 tions, and his well-directed labours are now seen in the magnifi- 

 cent specimens above referred to. Binning Woods were enclosed 

 in 1707, so that the trees given in the appended return are now 

 173 years old, and are still in pristine vigour. The beech drives 

 in Binning Wood are so arranged that they converge to a centre 

 like the radii of a circle, each parallel having the appearance of 

 the vaulted aisles of some grand Gothic cathedral, canopied with 

 living green verdure, and with a mossy carpet of velvet turf. 

 Altogether, the enclosed plantations on Tyninghame extend to 

 about 800 or 900 acres. Tree planting with Earl Thomas was a 

 favourite passion, communicated in a great measure to him by 

 his Countess, who w^as an enthusiastic tree lover, and he indulged 

 his fancy with discrimination and taste no less than with con- 

 summate skill in the selection of site, and description of tree 

 suited to it. The very sea-shore was skilfully included in his 

 operations, and many umbrageous specimens now luxuriate almost 

 down to w^ater-mark on the eastern outskirts of these woods. 



