20 RENFREWSHIRE EXCURSIONS. 



None of the group can compare for symmetry with that at the 

 south-west corner, which is a beautiful tree, spreading equally in 

 all directions. The following measurements of these trees were 

 taken on the 12th of March, 1892 : — 



Tree, south-west corner of kirkyard, at 3 ft. 6 in., - girth, 10 ft. 9 in. 



,, near tool-house, at 3 ft. 6 in., - - - - ,, II ,, 3 ,, 



,, south-east of church, ,, - - - - ,, 10 ,, 6£,, 



,, clue east ,, ,, ----,, 10 ,, t\„ 



Aikenhead Estate was next visited, the following measurements 

 of trees being taken at the time : — 



Wych-elm in garden overlooking pond, - 



,, ,, south-west of pond, 



English elm in park (south tree of a pair), 

 Oak near garden, ------- 



Walnut in garden (much decayed), - - - - 



The above measurements are all taken at the narrowest part of 

 the stem accessible. The wych-elms in the garden are particularly 

 handsome and tall trees. The tree giving the greatest girth 

 measurement was thickly overgrown with ivy, and had large 

 excrescences, but a foot was allowed for this in taking the girth. 

 Probably the greatest attraction for those present was in the park, 

 where two fine examples of the English elm (Ulmus campestris) 

 were seen in proximity to their more freely branching Scotch 

 congener, the wych-elm ( U. montand). 



The grounds about Cathcart House or Cartside, near the old 

 castle of Cathcart, were next visited. An opportunity was thus 

 afforded of viewing the castle from the bed of the river, and the 

 strength of its position was here more easily understood than from 

 the lane on its eastern side. A splendid beech at the entrance to 

 the grounds of Cartside was measured (girth, 11 feet 1 inch). On 

 the Court Knowe — the position from which Queen Mary viewed 

 the battle of Langside — a halt was called, and Mr. Scott contri- 

 buted further topographical notes. On this knowe formerly grew a 

 thorn, known locally as " Queen Mary's Thorn," but it decayed a 

 century ago, and a granite monolith has recently been placed on 

 the summit of the mound — taking the place of an earlier stone — 

 to keep green the memory of the connection of the unfortunate 

 Queen with this spot. Crossing the Cart by the old bridge — on 

 which a large number of plants of the wall-rue {Asplem'um Rata- 



