192 EET. CANON GEE — WINDSOR FOREST 



either case you have to go through the park to get at the forest. 

 There are grand trees in the park itself, especially on this second 

 route ; and there are, of course, charming residences within it. 



I will now speak of individual trees ; and I would divide or 

 class them according to the question whether their claim to indi- 

 vidual mention arises from their size and age or from their historical 

 interest. In that splendid work published by a late deputy- sur- 

 veyor, Mr. Menzies, the interesting trees are classed as " Veterans 

 of the Forest," or as " Royal Trees." I shall follow something of 

 this distinction. First, however, I would say a word or two as to 

 the growth of trees, and of our trees in particular. It is one great 

 intei'est of this park or forest that a recoid has been kept, at least 

 for the last few years, of all planting. More than this, iron tablets 

 have been placed near each plantation, so far as can be ascer- 

 tained by retrospection, to inform the public of the date of its first 

 beginnings. Our descendants will derive much information in this 

 way as to the growth of different timber. One thing they will 

 learn at once — that trees like children thrive differently, even under 

 precisely the same circumstances ; and, of course, very differently 

 in diffei'ent circumstances. A tree, for example, will grow very 

 slowly in a cold clay soil. If I were to go to a dated plantation, 

 and take the finest or the poorest tree, I should draw a very different 

 conclusion according to which I made the measure of progress. 

 But of course I have uniformly taken an average, but good speci- 

 men, a healthy, fair instance of what might be expected in the 

 time that has elapsed. I find then that 60 years, dating say from 

 the planting that followed upon the inclosure and new arrangement, 

 is only sufiicient to produce an oak four feet in circumference, or 

 say 16 inches through or across. The growth of the oak is there- 

 fore very slow ; and trees that measure 20 and 25 not to say 30 

 feet round may be allowed all the age with which they are credited. 

 Mr. Menzies reckons that 15 years {i.e. as I understand, 15 con- 

 secutive rings) go to each inch of radius. This would give 540 

 years to a yard, and would make a tree six feet through and about 

 20 feet round (including bark and knots) to be just that age. 



The whole character of a tree depends upon whether he stood at 

 the first out in the open, or whether he were in his earliest days 

 " cribb'd, cabined, and confined" by very close neighbours. I am 

 inclined to think that a dense neighbourhood, such as leads the tree 

 upwards for light and air, is very favourable for timber, otherwise 

 the tree branches too soon. It is with regret that I find some of 

 our largest oaks have a stem not exceeding five or six feet in 

 height. This hardly seems the consequence of soil, as you find 

 trees widely different in character standing within 100 yards of 

 each other. Our tallest and best-grown oaks in this sense are at a 

 place called " Cowpond," not far from Cumberland Lodge, and 

 close to the rhododendron-walk. There is the oak which, perhaps, 

 I should individualise as being at this present moment the best 

 grown and in the best condition. It is about 70 feet high ; it does 

 not throw a branch (not counting twigs) until it reaches the height 



