XXX PIIOCEKDIXGS OF THE 



The "Cottage Gardens" were first visited, and here, amongst a 

 number of fine old trees, a tulip-tree of unusually handsome 

 growth was specially noticed. Entering then the park just 

 beyond these gardens, the beautiful "lime-tree walk" was taken 

 towards Moor Farm. The trees now growing at the side of this 

 walk were planted about 150 years ago, and are now quite perfect, 

 but of the limes of older date one only is now standing. Selby, 

 in his ' History of British Forest Trees ' (p. 6), specially refers 

 to these limes as showing that where sufficient room has been 

 afforded to the lime-tree, " and the soil has suited its constitu- 

 tion," it becomes one of "the finest and most striking of our 

 forest-trees." 



That the roots of these trees must penetrate into the chalk 

 evidence was afforded by a chalk-pit near, the chalk being seen 

 to come almost to the surface. The bands of flints, cutting the 

 surface-line of the chalk at an angle, showed also that the true 

 or original sui-face of this — the Upper — Chalk was not seen, some 

 portion, perhaps considerable, having been denuded, probably by 

 the river, then flowing at a much higher level than now. The 

 Colne seems, in fact, to have been mainly instrumental in forming 

 the escarpment of the London Clay and Woolwich Beds which 

 here overlooks its present valley. 



The few existing indications of the old Moor House near the 

 Watford entrance to the park were next examined. The site 

 of the once fortified mansion, a nearly square piece of ground 

 artificially raised, estimated by pacing to be about an acre in 

 extent, was seen to be still protected on three of its sides by the 

 moat, and the position of the drawbridge in the centre of the 

 fourth side, by which it is approached, was clearly traced. 



The members then proceeded in the direction of the present 

 Moor House along the " King's Drive," so named because it was 

 the route taken by William the Fourth on his visit to the Marquis 

 of Westminster in 1833. Passing the house the upper pleasure 

 grounds were visited, and here the principal object of interest 

 was an old fir tree, supposed to be the largest and oldest spruce 

 fir in Great Britain. It appears to be a clump of firs, but is really 

 only one tree, some of the branches of which have bent down to 

 the ground, taken root, and sent forth fresh branches. The 

 pleasure grounds are about twenty-five acres in extent, and from 

 their elevated position afford splendid views of the surrounding 

 country. 



Beyond these grounds a halt was made at the " Bath End 

 Clump," near to which Wolsey's Oak, or the Cardinal's Oak, as 

 it is sometimes called, was noticed ; *' and towards the Batchworth 

 Heath entrance to the park, through the " Surrey Gap " were 

 seen the distant hills of Surrey. 



* The Rev. Canon Gee, in his paper on " Famous Trees in Hertfordshire " 

 (' Transactions,' Vol. II, p. 13) refers to this tree, and also gives some historical 

 information as to the origin of the pollard oaks in Moor Park. 



