87 



great size, the one on the south side rising to the gi-eatest height. This tree s 

 past its prime and has met with many misfortunes although still very luxuriant. 

 So far back as March 1827 a violent storm of wind one Sunday morning broke 

 off a large limb hanging over the road, which so completely blocked it up that 

 horsemen had to leap into the neighbouring garden or field to get by it. 



[ Note. — This same storm was felt so severely in Hereford that the 



service at All Saints' Chxirch was stopped for fear the spire should be 



blown down, and the rector (Dr. Symons) and all the congregation 



speedily left it. ] 



The Stretton Rectory Elm is a very fine old tree standing close to the 

 west end of the church in the rectory grounds. It has lost many limbs and is 

 much decayed, but the trunk is entii-e, and measures at five feet from the 

 20 feet eight inches in circumference, and its full height, which it stiU keeps well, 

 is about 102 feet. 



The Wormhridge Elm (of which an account will be given in another 

 place) measures 17 feet 8 inches in circumference, and is still a very luxuriant 

 tree. 



The Holm Laccy Elm is situated in the Park at Hohn Lacy — on the flat 



ground, on the eastern side of the house. It is a very fine old tree, which 



still keeps its original height and luxuriant upper boughs. It is hollow 



throughout, and all its larger lower limbs and many others up the tree are 



broken off. It measures 27 feet in circumference at five feet from the ground, 



and its exact height, as ascertained by Mr. Wells's clinometer, and by its 



shadow measure, is 104 feet. There are two other fine ebns at Holm Lacy. 



The Terrace Elm, with its ivy-covered stem, 



" The female ivy 

 Enrings the barky fingers of the Ehn." 



MidsitmmtT Night's Vream, Act II., Scene 1. 



near the western gate into the park, has a circumference of 15 feet ; and another 



Elm in the park near this one, with a hollow stem and battered branches, 



measures 16 feet 6 inches in circumference, and is 97 feet high. 



The Much Marcle Elm, grows near Hom House, in the field above the 

 kitchen garden. The girth at 5 feet from the ground is 18 feet 10 inches. It 

 is a vigorous tree, showing no sign of decay, with a clean bole and one main 

 stem. The height, roughly calculated by shadow measure, is 90 feet. It stands 

 ■well, and forms a landmark for the neighbourhood. (Dr. J. H. Wood). 



The Prophet at Credenhill Court is worthy of note from its name. 

 Whenever a death is about to take place in the family, it is said to be foretold 

 by the breaking off of a large bough, and the most convincing (?) instances are 

 given of its correctness. It is a fine tree, and grows in the garden on the western 

 side of the house. It presents a fine, tall, straight bole, which measures 14 feet 

 11 inches, and which rises some 40 feet before giving off any branch of 

 importance, and is said to contain 365 cubic feet of timber. 



