1879.] GROWTH OF YOUNG FOREST-TREES. 187 



exactly at one point, and no variation occurs in the phenomenon, and the 

 "freezing-point" of the Thermometer-makers is just the point at which ice 

 melts. We corrected four Thermometers lately in this way. "We took a pail 

 with a hole in the bottom, which allowed melting water to escape, and drained 

 it like a pot (a large pot would do) with lumps of ice, which was exposed to the 

 air of a warm house a few minutes to start it a-thawing. Over these we put 

 more ice, pounded small, and buried the Thermometers in the centre — leaving 

 the pail and its contents where the temperature was over 60° for a couple 

 of hours, and then uniced the Thermometers. Before this they were placed 

 side by side, and all indicating somewhat different temperatures. There 

 was only one "cheap" one amongst the lot — the rest were marked "war- 

 ranted." On picking them out, No. 1 proved two degrees too low ; No. 2 

 proved three degrees too high ; No. 3 was ten degrees too high ; and the 

 "cheap" unwarranted was correct — at freezing-point. Whether they be 

 correct at any other point could only be tested alongside of one with a scale 

 reaching to boiling-point (at the level of the sea — elevation makes a difference), 

 and by this means proved correct ; but, unfortunately, we did not at that 

 time possess one with so extended a scale. 



One point more demands attention. Sometimes a portion of the spirit — in 

 spirit instruments — gets detached, and some difficulty is experienced in getting 

 the portion to reunite. Some people recommend waving the instrument smartly 

 at arm's length to secure this. An easier, a better, and a much more scientific 

 way, is simply to plunge it into water of the same temperature as there are 

 degrees in the scale of the instrument. This causes the spirit to fill the tube, 

 when a sudden plunge into cold water will prevent its swelling more, and then 

 it will be found that the column of spirit will recede in a body. A. H. 



RAPID GROWTH OF YOUNG FOREST-TREES. 



There is a young wood which forms the north boundary of the flower- 

 garden here planted about eight years ago with various varieties of 

 trees, the growth of some of which have been so rapid, that it may be 

 worth recording, for the benefit of your readers. The place is open to 

 the north, but sheltered in every other direction, and the soil is a 

 yellow loam resting on a sandstone bottom. A Wellingtonia gigantea 

 has attained a height of 20 ft. 9 in. ; another, 20 ft. 3 in. ; and a third, 

 19 ft. 9 in. Several Larch-trees have reached a height of 26 ft. ; a Balsam 

 Poplar, 25 ft. ; a Lombardy Poplar, 34 ft. 6 in. ; Spruce, 26 ft. ; Scotch Fir, 

 18 ft. 6 in.; a Cupressus macrocarpa, 25 ft. ; Cedrus deodara, 15 ft. ; a 

 Cryptomeria japonica, 16 ft., and another, 13 ft. 6 in., — and various 

 others of sizes nearly approaching to the above. The plants were all 

 about from 2 to nearly 3 feet high when planted. 



While on this subject, I may mention an old Yew-tree which is here, 

 and under which tradition says that the barons met in conclave to 

 concoct the plot which ended in the blowing up of the Kirk-of- 

 Field and the murder of Darnley, the unfortunate consort of Mary, 

 Queen of Scots. The outside circumference of branches is close on 



