1885.] THE ENGLISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 359 



3 feet from the grouiul, 14 feet ; with a beautiful clear stem of 25 

 feet, while the branches extended to nearly 50 feet; it was con- 

 sidered the finest specimen in the Northern districts. 



Tiie white bircli is in abundance in the highlands of Scotland. 

 The variety with drooping-cut leaves {Betula lacinicUa pcndula) has 

 long been held in high estimation, and although anxiously propa- 

 gated in England, is never likely to be so abundant. There are 

 over one dozen varieties of birch in the ornamental varieties, most of 

 which have been imported from North America. 



Chestnut UEsculas ruUcunda), the scarlet ilowering variety, as an 

 ornamental park tree, is surpassed by few trees either in splendour 

 of its bloom or beauty of its foliage, which is seldom, if ever, injured 

 by our most severe frosts. The yellow flowering variety {yEscidus 

 Jlava) also deserves extensive cultivation, and bears good contrast to 

 that of the scarlet flowering variety. The quality of the wood of 

 the horse-chestnut is such as to render it of no value in the eye of 

 the profitable planter. 



In reviewing the varieties of the elm, Mr. Brown referred to some 

 fine specimens examined during the recent excursion to Lowther 

 Castle. All the varieties he exhibited succeed best grafted on the 

 Wych or Scotch elm. There are at least twenty-five varieties in 

 cultivation in our northern nurseries. 



I'aul's double crimson, which is a decidedly distinct variety, bear- 

 ing clusters of rich double crimson blossoms, which has a pleasing 

 effect to the bright green of its foliage, is perhaps the best of 

 numerous ornamental _ varieties of the hawthorn. Altliough it is 

 many years since this variety was introduced by one of our noted 

 south-country nurserymen, there are few specimens of any note to 

 be met with. Mr. Brown saw at the residence of the liight Hon. 

 the Earl of Stratlimore, Glamis, Forfarshire, a good many perfect 

 specimens, nearly 30 feet in height, and well balanced. The double 

 pink variety is also very fine in some places in the northern 

 counties. The varieties, which are numerous, are budded on the 

 common hawthorn. 



Golden Queen holly is the grandest of all the holly family, and is 

 well named the " queen." The finest specimen Mr. Brown had seen 

 of this variety is growing at Halliburton, Coupar- Angus, being quite 

 25 feet high, and a perfect pyramid. Silver Queen holly is rlso 

 noteworthy, having a large margin of pure white round the leaves. 

 Its habit of growing is similar to that of the Golden Queen, and 

 makes a good companion when planted side by side. It may not be 

 out of place to mention a curious physiological circumstance which 

 has often been noticed by botanists in regard to the holly, which is 

 that it is furnished with very prickly leaves near the ground, and 



