216 Note on an Ancient Ash Tree. 



Dimensions — Height, circumference of trunk at four feet above 



the ground, spread of branches, etc. 



Height of trunk from the ground to spread of branches 

 rather more than 12 feet. Circumference at 4 feet from 

 the ground 20 feet. The branches were like a triangle 

 with smaller diverging, but are all gone save one. 



Its degree of hardiness and power of resisting wind and extreme 

 temperatures. 



It may resist wind for a long time as there are no branches 



to make resistance or cause obstruction. 



Quality of timber. 

 Bad. 



Condition of tree, thriving or otherwise ; seedling, grafted, or 

 from cutting. 



In a state of decay. An effort was made some 10 years 

 ago to preserve it by digging and dunging but without 

 effect. 



Period when young buds and leaves appear usually and fall. Has 

 it flowered or fruited, or both ? 

 No buds. 



State any particulars as to pruning, planting, transplanting, or 

 thinning ; and effects of drainage, whether beneficial or otherwise. 

 No particulars. 



Whether it suffers from rabbits, squirrels, insects, or other 

 animals, and state the kinds. 

 Suffers from neither. 



If not thriving, state the supposed cause, and when the unhealthy 

 symptoms began. 



Age is the supposed cause of unhealthiness." 



Mr Gladstone added: — I wrote to Major Leny, the present 

 proprietor of Dalswinton, and he informs me that he believes that 

 the tree stood at the foot of the Byre Hill. 



He has in his possession a block of wood labelled — " A piece 

 of old ash in front of garden, blown down October, 1883. 

 Measures 27 feet in circumference at 5 feet from ground. — Dal- 

 swinton, 1893." Major Leny states that this tree stood at the 

 garden gate and that it is not the tree alluded to by Adam Rintoul. 

 If this be so, we have interesting records of two fine old ash trees. 



