

The Forest Trees of Wiltshire. 155 
vated into the first rank of ornamental if not of good timber 
trees, for the writer has a strong impression that the wood is 
inferior. Take size:—the circumference of the stem of the one 
now under notice is seventeen feet, at one foot from the ground ; 
and at four feet from the ground it is eighteen feet. At six 
feet from the ground, the main trunk divides into a number of 
large limbs, some of immense size, which diverge in all directions, 
from a perpendicular to a horizontal, giving the head a form 
resembling a half globe, and forming a complete canopy to 
the ground on all sides, covering a space eighty feet in 
diameter. Nothing can exceed the exquisite beauty of this tree, 
the cheerful early foliage of which contrasts most agreably with 
the glaucous hue of the surrounding cedars. In winter its 
freshness is most pleasing, and in summer it affords a cool and 
impenetrable shade from the sun’s rays. No trees were so broken 
by the snow and wind, in this neighbourhood, during the fatal 
storm when the “ London” went down, as the evergreen Oaks, 
As an encouragement to plant this noble tree,—many hesitating 
to do so on account of its supposed slow growth, and therefore of 
the.improbability of its attaining any great size in their lifetime,— 
it may be mentioned that there is a Cedar of Lebanon in the gar- 
den at Roundway Park, which was planted by the late Mr. Estcourt 
either in commemoration of his marriage, or of the birth of his 
eldest son, the Right Hon. T. H. 8S. Sotheron Estcourt, late M.P. 
for North Wilts. The latter event took place in 1801, therefore 
the tree has not been planted above 65 or 66 years. It is nota 
very lofty tree, for it branches out at a few feet from the ground ; 
but it has a fine spreading head, and is probably fifty feet high or 
more. The trunk just below the branches measures twelve feet in 
circumference. Would any of our common trees have made a 
greater growth? Unhesitatingly it may be said that they would 
not. What a pity then that such a noble, historical, beautiful, and 
picturesque tree should not be more generally planted! The pre- 
' judice entertained by some that the wood is worthless, because it 
is white and somewhat soft is quite unfounded, for it is not so: 
indeed, from experience—a very limited amount of it certainly— 
