LAST OF THE POLLOK WYCH ELMS. 135 
by the fact that two sycamores, which stood on the river bank 
near the elms, and were probably the remnants of a line of trees, 
were about one hundred and seventy to one hundred and eighty 
years old when cut this year, showing that they had been planted 
shortly after the date on which the elms received the sudden check. 
In conclusion, let me say that I do not expect that all will agree 
with my ideas or theories as to the life-history of the venerable old 
trees which adorned the banks of the Cart. I simply place before 
you the deductions I have made from the variations of their 
growth, the dates of which are so remote that it is impossible 
either to verify or contradict them, even although they may be 
open to question. 
