186 "a few notches on old teees." 



ground. " Stately " is a tall, straight tree, 70 ft. high. 

 " Beauty " is not quite so tall. 



At Burley, in the New Forest, there is a very fine group 

 of trees, twelve in number, and hence named " The Twelve 

 Apostles." They are very picturesque and grandly placed, 

 and one would regret the loss or destruction of one of them. 

 " The value of timber," says Gilpin, in his Forest Scenery^ 

 " is its misfortune." Every graceless hand can fell a tree. 

 But the hand that fells an oak can also plant an acorn ; but, 

 says Evelyn, " men seldom plant trees till they begin to be 

 wise, i.e. till they grow old, and find by experience the 

 prudence and necessity of it." 



In several parts of the country are trees known as 

 " Grospel Oaks." These either formed parish or county 

 boundaries, hence sometimes they are named " Shire Oaks " ; 

 but the name " Gospel " implies more than this, it bears the 

 trace of religion. When these trees were worshipped, or 

 formed centres of worship : — 



"It seems idolatry with some excuse, 

 When our forefather Druids, in their oaks, 

 Imagined sanctity." 



Then it nsed to be the custom, in beating the bounds of 

 parishes, for the minister, accompanied by his churchwardens 

 and parishioners, to stop at remarkable spots and trees, 

 and recite passages from the Gospels, and implore blessings 

 from the Almighty on the fruits of the earth, and for the 

 preservation and rights of the properties of the parish. 



Yews. — Gilpin says, " The yew is a pure native of Britain, 

 and was formerly what the oak is now, the basis of our 

 strength. Of it the old English yeoman made his long bow, 

 which he vaunted no one but an Englishman could bend." 

 It was ordered to be grown in the churchyards to secure its 

 cultivation, and its locality, where it could be found when 



