Planting on Hard Gronnd. 635 



"be penetrated by the roots before a sufficiency of nourishment could 

 be got for their proper development. 



The only other method that would be applicable in most instances 

 for these localities would be pitting, and that would entail consider- 

 able expense, and there would be the impossibility of getting the 

 trees properly fastened, unless there was a supply of soil at hand ; 

 there would also be a greater part of the surface broken up 

 than by bar planting ; there would consequently be a greater risk of 

 drought penetrating to their roots and destroying the plants. In a 

 conversation I had with a landed proprietor who had planted pretty 

 extensively, he said it was the only method of planting that had 

 been adopted on his estate for a number of years, and as he found it 

 successful, he intended to try no other. 



Since penning the above I have had a letter from an estate 

 manager who has had considerable experience in planting with the 

 crowbar, and he testifies to the success of plantations formed in that 

 way. 



Large Tulip Trees. — There are several majestic tulip trees growing at 

 Longleat, Wiltshire, the largest of which is close upon 100 feet high, with a fine 

 round solid bole 15 feet long, and 10 feet in circumference at 5 feet from the 

 base. Another fine specimen is about 85 feet high, with a straight bole lU feet 

 long, and 10 feet 10 inches at 5 feet up. At Zeal's House, in the same county, 

 is a magnificent tulip tree in luxuriant health, the height of which is fully 60 

 feet, and the diameter of the spread of the branches is about 70 feet ; the bole 

 being 6 feet long, up to where it divides into several huge handsome limbs, and 

 13 feet 4 inches iu circumference at the smallest part. The largest of several 

 fine tulip trees growing in the pleasure grounds at Margam Park, Glamor- 

 ganshire, is 13 feet in circumference of stem at 3 feet from the ground, and 

 nearly 100 feet high. A grand old tulip tree, one of the largest in England, 

 grows within 20 feet of the mansion-house at l^illerton Park, Devonshire, the 

 seat of Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, Bart. Its height is about 90 feet, the dia- 

 meter of the spread of the branches being 70 feet at the widest part ; the bole 

 is 12 feet in length to where its massive limbs fork off; and the smallest girth, 

 which is about halfway up the bole, is W feet. It is annually covered with a 

 profusion of its tulip-like flowers, and the bark has a rough corded appearance, 

 which is very ornamental. 



