A Tour through the Woods and Forests of 

 Duff House; Banffshire. 



{Continued from page 488.) 



CoNTiNUiNa our walk by the winding river, and favoured with a 

 beautiful day, we on the one hand cannot help admiring the beautiful 

 surrounding scenery, and on the other stopping to examine some 

 grand living monuments of the vegetable kingdom in the form of 

 beautiful silver firs (Picea pcdinata). Many other good specimen 

 trees of elm, lime, and poplar, adorn this river-side, but it would seem 

 that the silver fir reigns paramount. 



We came upon the root of one recently cut, and were informed 

 that it was blown over in a gale of wind. The felling and lopping of 

 the tree were simple matters compared with its removal, owing to 

 its enormous size. However, it had been allowed to lie by the river- 

 side until the first spate, when it was successfully floated down to 

 the Bridge of Banff, being nearly a mile from where it grew. The 

 solid contents of this splendid tree were 210 feet. 



A good many more of the same size are still existing near by ; 

 consequently we were induced to take the dimensions of two of 

 them, which are as follows: — No. 1, circum. of bole at 5 ft. from the 

 ground 10 ft. ; entire height of tree about 100 ft. No. 2 measures at 

 5 ft. from the ground 11 ft. 1 in. in girth, length of bole 2 7 ft. ; it then 

 ramifies until it forms a fine head about 90 ft. high. These are about 

 an average size, and by their dark evergreen appearance, contrasted 

 with their deciduous neighbours, give at all times a pleasing effect to 

 the sloping sides of the winding river. 



Opposite to where we stand, and near the middle of the river, is a 

 well-wooded island, containing some very fine specimens, but we must 

 allow them to remain without further note, having no taste for fording 

 the river, and possibly disturbing the salmon, which at this season 

 reigns supreme in these waters. By the side of the walk is a beautiful 

 spring, known as St, Mary's Well, the water of which is always cool 

 and limpid, and, to the favoured in search of the picturesque, is, in 

 summer time, a refreshing draught ; — 



"Its placid waters, how cool and clear ! " 



A little further on and we observe a recently planted cedar of 

 Lebanon {Cedrus Lihcmi), growing beautifully, and we presume that at 



