, 
. 
REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 93 
shown by stating that the summit of the Law of Mauldslie, 675 
feet above sea-level, is only 1,4, miles distant from the river, where 
the latter flows at a height of 102 or 103 feet—a difference of fully 
570 feet, or an average descent exceeding 1in 10. The slope on 
the opposite side of the river is not so steep. 
On the way down, it was noticed that the little burns had worn 
deep channels through the sand and gravel with which the lower 
part of the side of the valley is covered—relics, probably, of the 
glacial period with its attendant “drift.” At the bottom of the 
valley is a detached mound of similar origin, called the Haugh-hill 
or Ha’hill, covering several acres, and rising about 60 or 70 feet 
above the surrounding ground. It is clad with trees, excepting a 
space at the top where there is an old burial-place containing the 
remains of (among others) the last two Earls of Hyndford, former 
proprietors of the estate. : 
Near this mound is one of the most remarkable trees in the 
policies, viz., a White Poplar (Populus alba) which rises to a 
height of probably 80 ft., and ‘girths 15 ft. 44 in. at 3 ft. 6 in. on 
north side. On 15th August, 1891, the measurement at the same 
point was 15 ft. 4 in., showing an increase in girth of 4 in. since 
that date. The spread of branches is as follows: 49 ft. 7 in. to 
east, 37 ft. to west, trunk 8 ft.=94 ft. 7 in. 
Nearer the castle is a still larger White Poplar, which measures 
18 ft. 24 in. in girth at the narrowest part of the trunk ( 2 ft. 6 
in. on north side, and 1 ft. 8 in. on south side). On 15th August, 
1891, the girth at this point was 18 ft., and the increase since that 
date has therefore been 24 in. The first branch, which goes off at 
about 2 ft. from the ground, is 8 ft. 1} in. in girth just above its 
base, and shows an increase of 1} in. since formerly measured. 
Above this branch the main stem still maintains the very 
_ respectable dimensions of 17 ft. 14 in. in circumference, and also 
_ shows an increase in girth of 1} in. since measured in 1891. The 
spread of branches is as follows: 52 ft. to south, 42 ft. 6 in. to 
north, trunk 7 ft. 9 in.=102 ft. 3 in. We have not seen any 
_ other Poplars equal to these, although there may be one still 
existing in Kippenross Park which about the year 1860 was 
reported to be 20 ft. in girth at the ground, and 12 ft. at 45 ft., 
+ with a spread of 94 ft. 
Another notable tree, unapproached by any we have yet seen, 
