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must not be planted moreover in a low or damp situation, or it may be destroyed 

 by a severe frost. The Sequoia sempervirens is own sister to the Sequoia, 

 Welliiuitoniu (once the WeUingtonia giriantca, oh those tiresome botanists !) but 

 it is not so hardy as the latter tree. There is in this grove a Sequoia Welling- 

 tonia about 12 feet high, planted in 1856, but though it looks well it has not 

 taken kindly to its situation, and is as yet only growing at the annual rate of 

 about 14 inches. A group of them, in honour of the grove's name, should be 

 planted lower down the bank. It will give a good idea of the rapidity of growth 

 of the Redwood trees here to say that whilst they grow from 3 to 4 feet a year, 

 the Larch firs scattered about them grow barely 2 feet per annum, the Deodar 

 Cedars average two feet, the African cedar 2ft. 6in., and the Cryptomeri 2ft. 6in. 

 These last trees are growing admirably here, and there are several specimens 

 from 30 to 40 feet high. There is a Pinsapo fir (Abies Pinsapo) growing very 

 eymetrically, with branches brushing the ground. It has been planted eleven 

 years. It is 19 feet high, and its annual rate of growth is about 2 feet. 



There are many smaller coniferous plants of great interest here ; but there 

 is, however, one tree which demands a special notice, and that is a seedling oak 

 -which i? nearly evergreen. It has a large, fine sessilliflora leaf, of a light and 

 cheerful green, and it was first observed in the very severe winter of 1860, when 

 it kept on its leaves with their natural colour until March. This variety ia 

 now being propagated for planting. 



Whilst approaching this tree to look more closely at it, a splendid cock 

 pheasant flew rocketing up with much more noise and alarm than there was the 

 least necessity for. "A splendid shot," was remarked. " I wish I had a gun," 

 was the answer, "and permission to shoot — not that brilliant bird — but I should 

 like to blow off the leading shoots of five or six of the larch trees hereabouts ; 

 it would make them send out fresh leaders in that picturesque form the larch 

 always puts on when it meets with some such misfortune, and which would be 

 the delight of visitors in years to come." 



Those who like trees, may linger long here with much satisfaction and 

 pleasure. It is as quiet as it is pretty and interesting. Let us meditate on 

 the estate in general. 



Whitfield, after all, conceals wonderfully well the beauty of its scenery. 

 . "Visitors may come and visitors may go" with scarcely an idea of it. They 

 must see to be sure, the abundance of its trees, and the richness of its wooded 

 hills ; and in autumn they cannot but notice the loveliness of its foliage tints ; 

 but then this is not so very uncommon in Herefordshire, and is but one feature 

 at Whitfield. If they take " the Wood Walk" as they will be sure to do, it will 

 probably remain upon their minds as the very model of what a hot summers 

 day's walk should be, in its airy shade and its delicious coolness— and set too, 

 in this pleasant remembrance as a framework, will be many bright spots— first, 

 a most picturesque group of Scotch fixs, with a wild and lovely entourage of 

 undulating ground, parklike and wild, of brake, and of scattered trees. Again 

 for a dark picture, the oak before mentioned shivered and blasted in the fulness 



