Remarkable Silver Firs. 283 



to give the contents, as it would be dangerous to attempt to climb up 

 amongst the decayed limbs ; it is said the highest tree in the clump (its 

 top is now dead and some portion of it broken off) was 150 ft. high about 

 twenty years ago. The clump stands in an exposed situation, on an 

 elevated piece of ground on the confines of the grove^ and forms an apex 

 to the latter famous collection of fine old timber, standing out in bold 

 relief as a landmark so far as the eye can reach from prominent heights in 

 the surrounding country. Another clump of magnificent trees is growing 

 in an oak coppice adjoining the park ; the soil is a stiff loam on the 

 Oxford clay. Six of the largest trees in this clump measure from 116 ft. 

 to 129 ft. high, and girth at 5 ft. up from 13 ft. to 15 ft. ; at 30 ft. up they 

 girth from 10 ft. 7 in. to 12 ft. 3 in. ; and at 60 ft. up girth from 7 ft. 3 in. 

 to 8 ft. 5 in. The average cubical contents of six trees is 465 ft. ; the largest 

 tree 517 ft. The whole of these trees arc beautiful healthy specimens, full of 

 vigour aud growth, and are branched quite near to the ground. The next 

 clump I will mention is growing on a thin poor soil on the greensand, 

 and it was probably planted about the same time as the last-mentioned 

 clump. Twenty of the largest trees iu this clump measure from 95 ft. to 

 114 ft. high, they girth at 5 ft. up from 9 ft. 10 in. to 14 ft. 3 in., and the 

 contents of each tree varies from 240 ft. to 845 ft. These are all healthy 

 trees and well furnished with branches near to the ground, forming a large, 

 bold, and effective clump, situated on the verge of an open valley, with 

 hangiug woods on either side, and when viewed from the summit of hills 

 in the vicinity, form a striking feature in this wild ornamental portion of 

 the estate. 



At Strathfieldsaye, Hants, there are some fine specimens of the silver 

 fir, upwards of 140 ft. high, and girthing at 5 ft. up from 11 ft. to 13 ft. 

 Gin. At Springkell, iu Dumfriesshire, there are some remarkable silver 

 firs. Twelve of the largest trees measure from 80 ft. to 115 ft. high, and 

 girth at 5 ft. up from 10 ft. Sin. to 13 ft. 9 in. ; their cubical contents 

 varying from 180 ft. to 520 ft. In many other parts of Britain fine specimens 

 may be seen, but I hardly think that there are any to be found that will 

 exceed the measurements of those I have given. 



A few years ago a silver fir at Southwick, near Colvend, Kirkcudbright- 

 shire, was 159 ft. high, IG ft. 10 in. at 3 ft. up ; and another on the same 

 estate 134 ft. high, with a girth of 15 ft. 3 inches. Besides these, there are 

 several other fine silver firs on the Southwick estate above twelve feet in 

 girth. They are growing in a deep loam in a sheltered position. 



On the estate of Ediubarnet, Old Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, a county 

 noted for tall trees, there is a silver fir in vigorous condition 150 ft. 

 high and 12 ft. iu girth at 3 ft. up. On the Rossdhu estate in the same 

 county there are two silver firs, growing at an altitude of 230 ft. above the 

 sea ; one 110 ft. high, girth 16 ft. 2 in. at 1 ft. up, and 12 ft. 6 in. at 6 feet 

 up ; the other 102 ft. high, girth at 1ft. up 17 ft., and at 6 ft. up 13 ft. 

 6 in. There are also two very fine trees on the Eoscneath estate, the height 

 of one being given by J. C. Loudon in 1840 as 124 ft., with a diameter of 

 trunk 6 ft. 4 in. at 3 ft. from the ground ; giving a circumference of about 



