115 



ference. Its bouglis hang down on all sides ; their long slender shoots reaching 

 nearly to the ground, and 



" Half concealing, half revealing," 

 the silvery bark of the stem within. 



A little to the right of this tree, on the rise of the ground, a rampart 

 is thrown up. It is formed by a short straight row of horse-chesnut trees (the 

 largest lift. 2in. in girth). They seem to have known what they were wanted 

 for. At once they throw out brandies which sweep the ground, and uniting, 

 form a dense barrier of foliage, impregnable to eyesight. Tunnel it, and pass 

 under, to a space a few yards further on. 



On the highest point of the park, not far from the entrance, is a very 

 remarkable circular tree-enclosed space. It is slightly cliptical, and of some ICO 

 paces in diameter. It is formed by a double row of Scotch fii--trees. Tradition 

 gives no certain clue to its origin ; but the existence at Harewood in olden 

 days of a Preceptory of Knights Templars (afterwards Hospitallers of St. John 

 of Jerusalem) affords full scope for conjecture. The spot, moreover, where this 

 rinc is situated, commands a view, amongst other points, of Garway Hill, where 

 a prominent and well known group of trees indicates the scene of another 

 Preceptory of the same order of Kniiihts HospUallers. Harewood and Diiimore 

 were brother establishments with Garivay, in this county, and all of them 

 connected with the head-quarters of St. John's of Clerkenwell, in London. 



Around this circular space are some very remarkable trees. The double 

 ring of handsome young and growing firs which now surround it were planted by 

 the late Sir Hungerford Hoskjms about 40 years ago, the finest of them 

 measuring 6ft. Sin. ; 5ft. llin. ; 4ft. 7in. ; 5ft. lin. ; 5ft. 7in. ; 4ft. 8in. ; 

 5ft. llin. ; 6ft. 2in. ; 5ft. llin. ; 6ft. 6in. ; 5ft. lOin. ; and 5ft. lOin. ; at 5ft. 

 from the ground. 



But there are in the ring two trees of a former generation of Scotch firs 

 which are very fine and interesting. The largest tree on the north side is 

 represented in the photograph opposite : it measures 13ft. 6in. in girth. Its 

 fellow on the opposite side measures lift. Ein. ; but what the latter wants 

 in size is amply compensated for by its very great beauty. Driven from its 

 upright position by some violent storm, it has still kept its ground, and 

 presents an object most strikingly picturesque on entering the park. 



A single aged and dilapidated oak, still standing close to the present ring 

 of firs, suggests the presumption of a still more ancient ring of trees ; and this, 

 too, is borne out by local tradition. 



In Elm trees, Harewood shows nothing very remarkable. There are two 

 taU, ivy-covered elms near the stables, which measure 13ft. 6in. and lift. 7in. 

 respectively ; and on the south lawn there is a handsome tree of 13ft. Tin. 

 This tree has that peculiarity of the elm, "the bended knee," strongly marked 

 in several boughs. One of the largest bends down from the trunk of the tree, 



p 2 



