128 LAST OF THE POLLOK WYCH ELMS. 
they were not natural seedlings, but that they were planted on the 
site where they grew; it seems almost as certain that they were 
planted with some particular object in view, but what that may 
have been is even more difficult to surmise than the probable 
original numbers. 
It is, no doubt, very pleasant to travel back in our imagination, 
seeing visions of saplings, poles, and young trees growing up in 
entirely different conditions to those with which we are familiar ; 
but meantime we must leave that phase of the subject and speak 
of them as we actually knew them. 
As has already been said, there is no known record of them 
before 1812, although there is little doubt that they stood in the 
same position for about three hundred years, and the last two a 
decade longer. From the date just mentioned to the rath of 
February, 1894, there was no change in their number, and little 
change in their appearance. On the latter date the two outside 
and largest members of the group were blown down, and shortly 
afterwards I had the honour to give a few particulars of the fallen 
monarchs to the members of this Society (see Vol. II., page 5). 
It is, therefore, with pleasure that again I submit some figures 
about the last of them, along with some general remarks on their 
growth and probable life history. 
Of the two last survivors there are no measurements on record 
of an earlier date than 1892, when the members of this Society 
measured all the trees; and indeed it is only of the largest one 
that we have any earlier measurements recorded. The first is that 
given in Strutt’s book, the date being 1812, and others were taken 
at varying intervals from that time. In giving these measurements 
it is well to remember that comparison is not of much value, as it 
is not certain that the ground about the trees was always at the 
same level. Indeed, it is known to have been changed several 
inches on two occasions within the present generation, and it is 
possible that in former times it may have undergone similar 
changes. 
The measurements above referred to are as follows :— 
In 1812 this tree was 10 feet ro inches in girth at 5 feet, and 
85 feet high. 
In 1824 it was 11 feet 10 inches in girth at 5 feet. 
In 1836 it was 12 feet in girth at 5 feet, and go feet high. 
