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number of places in the tree from which the parasite springs would be a task 

 pretty much on a par with the effort to unravel the mystery of a Chinese puzzle. 

 Your Commissioner got to the number thirty-five, when he became entangled 

 in the branches and was obliged to give in. 



There are many Yew trees lending their dark shade to the park scenery at 

 Harewood. Some of them are very old, and one in the clump concealing the 

 stone quarry, measures 13 feet 7 inches, and another there 9 feet 3 inches in 

 girth, but they are not generally of large size. 



In the neighbouring churchyard of Llandinabo is a Yew tree, centuries 

 old. It has withstood countless storms, and been torn and cropped by genera- 

 tions upon generations of men. It is a sound old tree all the same, and 

 measures at two feet from the ground not less than 22 feet 4 inches in girth. 

 It cannot be measured fairly above this height, since it is surrounded on every 

 side by an abundance of thickly growing twigs. A tree of apparently the same 

 age grows on the other side of the churchyard, and it is nearly as large, but its 

 boughs starting from the ground have prevented the possibility of any accurate 

 measvirement. 



In the churchyard of Much Birch is a perfect trunk of a fine old Yew tree, 

 measuring 18 feet 9 inches in circumference. It still bears some smaU living 

 branches on the north side, but the top is all gone, and on the south side, about 

 ten feet from the ground, an elder tree — some three or four feet in ckcumference — 

 shoots out and flourishes luxuriantly. 



A walk through the groimds at Harewood in the early morning of a fine 

 spring day leaves behind it the most pleasurable recollections. The freshness 

 and brightness of the morning air, the clearing off of the slight mist remaining 

 from the dew, the singing of birds, the cheerful noise from the rookery, the 

 fetching home the cows to be milked, the departure of men and horses fresh 

 for the labour of the day, and the hundred other of those pleasant rural sounds 

 and sights which meet one everywhere in the country, are here to be found in 

 perfection, and added to them, the lights and shadows on trees and groups of 

 trees picturesque in themselves, and planted and pruned for their picturesque 

 effect. 



Your Commissioner left Harewood about 9 o'clock. His companion pulled 

 up the open carriage he was diiving to a foot pace at the "Home Oak," and to 

 a dead stop opposite the grand old tree, a hundred yards off the drive. How 

 much a well-proportioned tree conceals its size ! Could it possibly be eight feet 

 in diameter? It seemed not, but happUy just at that minute a farmer on 

 horseback chanced to ride under the tree, and in front of the bole. It w as a 

 moment for silence, as he, and his horse from head to tail, were easily included 

 in the out-Kne of the trunk as in a picture frame ! On again went the carriage, 

 its occupants convinced and contented, rejoicing once more by the way, in the 

 happy effects of light and shade, of form and foliage in the trees, that, whenever 

 the sun shines, awaits the visitors at Harewood. 



