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parts, with Nature abounding on every side, while at various 
points we came across some rare or handsome tree, or group of 
trees, which brought the leaders of the party to a halt until the 
rear closed up. Along the Azalea Walk these beautiful flowering 
shrubs were growing luxuriantly, and many of them had formed 
great masses fully 20 feet high. Rhododendrons were equally 
fine, the soil and climate seeming to be exactly suited to the free 
growth of all the race of what are commonly called “ American 
Plants ”»—Andromedas, Kalmias, Pernettyas, Gaultherias, Ledums, 
Ericas, and the like, all appearing to be thoroughly at home. 
Near the Azalea Walk a grand Cedar of Lebanon, which was 
estimated to be fully 100 feet in height, had a girth of 10 feet 
2 inches. 
The “Monarch” of the Conifers at Dropmore is the far-famed 
Douglas Fir, which was planted in 1830, and has attained a 
height of 120 feet, with a girth of 11 feet 4 inches at 3 feet up. 
At 5 feet up, where it was measured to-day, it girthed only 
2 inches less. Some of the practical members of the company 
estimated that it contained 270 cubic feet of clean timber. The 
seed which produced this grand and now famous tree, supposed to 
be the largest ‘‘Douglas” in Europe, was part of the first lot sent 
home in 1827 by David Douglas from North-West America to the 
Horticultural Society of London. It was sent to Lord Grenville in 
the winter of 1827-28, and, as already stated, it was planted out as 
a seedling two years later. It is at present in the most vigorous 
health. Its beautiful fan-like branches, covered with the richest 
foliage, descend to the ground and have a spread of 63 feet across, 
and the tree, while it has not added much to its height during the 
past few years, has steadily increased in girth. Not very far from 
it grows a second Douglas Fir, reared from seed taken from the 
tree just described. The younger tree, which was planted in 
1843, has now attained a height of 78 feet, and a girth of 8 feet 
2 inches. The large Douglas Fir grows in a well-sheltered spot in 
the grounds at a short distance from the mansion ; and Mr Herrin 
mentioned that every means are taken to protect it from injury, 
and to encourage a vigorous growth. The natural soil is of a light 
open texture, on a porous gravelly subsoil, in which trees root 
freely, but, said Mr Herrin, the Conifers are greatly benefited 
by a good top-dressing on such a soil, and thus everything in the 
shape of a barrow-load of well-rotted compost that can be got 
hold of, is taken to the great Douglas Fir and carefully spread 
