303 



the measurement is not true, since the rent on two sides reaches the ground, and 

 gapes widely on one of them. 



This dingle takes its name from a spring called the "Laugh Lady "Well," 

 which rises in a pretty spot at the foot of the hill. It has apparently lost its 

 legend, and sadly wants one. 



The "Woodyard Oak (Q. sessiUfflora), 17ft. 9in. in girth, may have lost its 

 top and main branches in the Cromwellian hurricane. The fine old Oak on the 

 Southern hill (Q. sess.J, giving 22ft. 10. in fine measurement at eft. from the 

 ground, and spreading out at the ground level to no less than 42ft., was possibly 

 bat'ered severely then: so, too, perchance, were three other Oaks on the hill, 

 measuring 14ft. 4in., 20ft, 3in., and 18ft. in girth, grievously injured by it, 

 for they carry grief scars centuries old. All of them are more or less weird, 

 hollow, and broken, and all of them so much burrowed under as to offer a secure 

 and safe refuge for rabbits or foxes. 



Sttting such speculations aside, there are two or three other Oaks which 

 though much younger are still old enough, or have a position to keep them from 

 the cool calculating clutches of the timber dealer, and thus demand a notice. 

 By the Park cottage is a very fine grown Oak (Q. sebillijlora ) which has a circum- 

 ference of 17ft. 2in. ; bat unfortunately decay has set in, for a fine Pohjporus 

 dryadeus grew from the trunk near the ground, and gave this information. How 

 pretty and picturesque this cottage is ; how well its grounds have been planted 

 with roses ; how exquisite was the view from it on the day of sunshine and 

 cloud wheu these notes were taken, with a fine herd of stags in the foreground, 

 space permits not to tell, for when the Oak at the new keeper's house — the Meat- 

 safe Oak — is measured, 12ft. 8in. in girth, and the picturesque Beech treGS passed 

 by (having been already described in Mr. Woodhouse's paper), there still re- 

 mains the long row of fine Sweet Chestnut trees to be given. 



These Sweet Chestnut trees are believed to be about 150 or 160 years old. 

 They are said to h i ve been brought from Ey wood. They are many of them of great 

 interest and beauty, and some show well the beautifully reticulated bark occasion- 

 ally observed in this tree. Here are a series of their measurements : 16ft. swelling 

 out by protuberances, twisted, knotted, and knarled, to 19ft. Din. : then comes an 

 interesting group of four tall stemmed trees 13.9 ; 16.4 ; 13.3; and 13.5. Then 

 in a single line they strike away to the head of the dingle, and the tape thrown 

 round several gave these figures :— lift. lOin. ; 17.8 a very fine tree indeed; 

 13.9; 131; 16.10; 13 7; 18 3; 16.7 until the tree at the extreme corner is 

 reached, which from its single upright tall stem and good growth is the finest of 

 all and measured 16ft. 9in in circumference. 



This narrow bend of the dingle was very picturesque and interesting. Au 

 Ash tree measured 13ft. in girth ; and higher up a very fine Wych Elm carried 

 up its trunk well amidst its drooping branches, and gave the large measurement 

 of ISf t. 8in. in circumference. 



A doe with her fawn here jumped up suddenly from the brake, and put 



