RENFREWSHIRE EXCURSIONS. 23 



vulgaris) which Sir John Maxwell, the grand-uncle of the present 

 proprietor, used to show to his friends with excusable pride. The 

 following measurements were taken on the 19th March, 1892, by 

 a party representing the Society :— South tree, 14 feet 2 inches at 

 4 feet 10 inches. This tree lost a large branch in the storm of 

 13th October, 1891. North tree, 15 feet 6| inches at 5 feet 

 on east side. This tree was measured on the angle as it dips to 

 the north, and shows, as is so common in this species, torsion. 

 At the ground the trunk of this tree measures 22 feet 6 inches. 



Plants in the garden which chiefly attracted attention were 

 the meadow-saffron (Colchicum autumnale), chicory (Cichorii/m 

 Intybus), Virginian spiderwort {Tradescantia virginica), and borage 

 (Borago officinalis). The petty-spurge (Euphorbia Peplus) occurred 

 as a weed. 



It was anticipated that, considering the season and the well- 

 wooded nature of Pollok Estate, many interesting fungi would be 

 seen there, but curious to state they were conspicuously absent, 

 and attention was therefore largely directed to the fine trees in the 

 neighbourhood of the mansion house. These include, as is well 

 known, a group of wych-elms (Ulmus montand) which were 

 figured in the Scotch section, Sylva Scotica, of the sumptuous 

 work on trees, Sylva Britannica, published by Strutt in 1822. 

 Measurements of this group will be found in Strutt's work, in 

 Loudoun's Arboretum el Fruticetum Britannicum, and in the 

 publications of the Highland and Agricultural Society. The 

 following measurements were taken at the same time as those of 

 the Spanish chestnuts given above : — 



Tree at west end of group, at 5 ft. 5$ in. (river side), - 13 ft. 9^ in. 



,, next to above, at 4 ft. 2\ in. (river side), - - n , I0 .', 



3 » »i „ „ - - 12 „ oj „ 



*' " 4 ,, 9 >, „ - - 13 „ i| ,, 



The position on the trunk at which former measurements were 

 taken cannot now be relied on, as the level has been raised. The 

 arrangement of the twigs of the wych-elm, and the manner in 

 which the branches are disposed, make it perhaps the most 

 striking of our forest trees when bare of foliage, and the group at 

 Pollok admirably illustrates this. 



At the west end of the avenue which leads to the mansion 

 house from Bankhead Lodge stands a noble horse-chestnut, 



