1884.] TBEE BECOBDS. 387 



notice is a little instrument that has recently been invented bv 

 Mr. Kay.' 



The Graphic also observes that * A most ingenious instrument for 

 measuring the height of trees has been invented by ]\Ir. Kay, of 

 Eothesay. It is too abstruse in its construction to be here described, 

 but it will suffice to say that it saves a vast amount of trouble, and 

 does not require a year's practice in order to work it.' 



I shall be i)leased to hear how Koenig came to construct his 

 Messbrett. 



.lAiiEs Kay. 



TREE RECORDS. 



SlE, — Can any of your readers inform me by reference to tabulated 

 lists in their possession, whether there are statistics of any specimens 

 of the Cijtisus lahurnum Alpinum and Castanea resca, of much 

 greater dimensions than the annexed ? Further, for the sake of 

 comparison, whether any that may be mentioned are growinn- in 

 England or Scotland ? 



I hope I may have the favour of an early reply to enable me to 

 complete some preparations for the Exhibition, the entries for which 

 close soon. 



Nutwood, Straihpeffer, Ross-shire, X.B., 

 Fehruary mh., 1884. 



'William F. Gunx. 



Chestnut (77 ft. high). 

 Girth at 1 ft. up =25 ft. 7 in. 

 „ 3 ft. = 21 ft. 10 in. 



„ 5 ft. = 20 ft. 2 in. 



Length of bole, 15 ft., and circumference of spread of branches 207 ft. 

 or a diameter of 69 ft. 



LABUENmi. 



Girth at 3 ft. in. = 8 ft. 6 in. 

 „ „ 5 ft. 6 in. = 9 ft. 9 in. 



Divides into two large branches at six feet from the ground. 

 Girth of largest branch 6 ft. 5 in. 



„ other „ 5 ft. 1 in. 



The present length of the tree is 33 ft., but the largest branch 

 was cut at 11 ft. long, and the other at 20 ft. long. The tree fell 

 many years ago, and the above trunk is not very badly decayed, 

 but the two lesser branches lying on the ground have taken root 

 and are growing again. 



It is situated on the lawn of Castle Leod, Strathpeffer, Eoss-shire, 



