1885.] FALLEN MONARCH S. 227 



The loss of such a tree is greatly to be deplored. Its huge trunk 

 had shown signs of splitting for some months, and I had con- 

 templated arresting it by mechanical means. But the magnitude of 

 the undertaking, consequent upon the enormous weight of branches 

 overhanging the deep water, had deterred me. The great mass of 

 foliage must have hastened its downfall, as the atmosphere at the 

 time was unusually calm. It is a singular coincidence that a year 

 ago, almost to the day, a very handsome cedar of Lebanon, growing 

 upon the lawn here, and near to the mansion, toppled over upon 

 just such another summer evening. The head of this was flat, and 

 covered a great space, though the trunlc was short. The circum- 

 ference of this tree was 11 feet 6 inches, and its age — reckoned by 

 the annual rings which were very distinctly traceable — was 169 

 years. 



Thus depart the greatest external adornments of our country 

 seats, and the glories of our parks and woodlands ; teaching us the 

 important lessons, which cannot be too often repeated, or too 

 strongly impressed upon the minds of all landowners, and of those 

 who have the charge of landed property, that it is their duty to 

 maintain by constant planting and judicious tending both the 

 ornamental plantations and the more serviceable or marketable 

 portions of the woodlands. The paintings in the gallery represent 

 the same scenes under the same aspects all the year round, and 

 from year to year. But the out-of-door pictures vary with the 

 season, and with the growth of their component parts ; giving in 

 .spring the most delicate of hues ; passing in summer to the height 

 of gorgeousness ; fading away in autumn to the mellowest and 

 richest of tints ; and displaying in winter the perfection and wealth 

 of intricate ramifications. 



I shall be pardoned for repeating here what I have stated 

 elsewhere, viz, that whilst the mistakes of the farmer and of the 

 gardener can be seen in a single season, and may be rectified the 

 following year, those of the tree-planter take years to discover, and 

 often more than a generation to rectify. Hence the necessity for 

 the thorough training of the forester, and the establishment of a 

 School of Forestry worthy of this great Empire, whose future timber 

 supply must eventually depend largely upon its home growth, and 

 the produce of its Colonies, 



It is sincerely to be hoped that the Committee, over which Sir 

 John Lubbock will so ably preside, will thoroughly investigate the 

 subject, and take all the evidence obtainable from the most 

 practical men, 



A. J. BUKKOWS. 

 Pluckley, Kent, July 17</',;18S5. 



