74 
supported, the diameter of the spread of which was fully 
120 feet. 
We next drove off towards Rhinefield, along the new “Ornamental 
Ride,” which has been formed right through a plantation of oak 
about 500 acres in extent, more than a mile in length, and dropping 
down into the valley as we proceeded. Standing well back from the 
grassy margins of the Ride, a beautiful avenue has been formed of 
the handsomest of the taller-growing species of Conifers, including 
Abies Douglasiit, A. grandis, A. Menziesii, A. Nordmanniana, 
A, nobilis, Cupressus Lawsoniana, C'. nutkaénsis, Cedrus Deodara, 
C. atlantica, Thuja gigantea, and such like, all in fine thriving 
condition, and promising to make a grand Conifer Avenue in due 
time. The Ride was made about thirty years ago, and the avenue 
trees were planted at the same date. We also passed in the course 
of our drive what had formerly been the Oak Tree Nursery, about 
10 acres in extent. When planting was stopped in 1870, the 
nursery beds were left very much as they stood; and the oaks, 
although they have since been slightly thinned, are now growing 
very closely together, and pushing up their heads in a way which 
promises to make them in the end fine straight-stemmed timber 
trees. 
As we passed through the Forest, the greatly varying nature of 
its soil was easily observed, as exemplified in the character and 
quality of the trees growing upon it. In certain places, every- 
thing in the shape of a tree seemed to grow with the greatest 
freedom—hardwoods and Conifers alike—while perhaps at barely 
a stone throw from these thriving trees, even the hardy Scots fir had 
difliculty in maintaining an existence, owing to the poverty of 
the soil, or its pernicious nature for the sustenance of tree life. 
We drove for a long distance through large woods of excellent 
Scots fir, which upon much of the land in the Forest seems to pro- 
duce the most profitable crop of useful timber. The plantations 
vary from twenty to forty years old, and are thus comparatively 
young, but their good condition and thriving aspect met the 
approval of the practical members of the party, and promised 
satisfactory results when the crops arrive at maturity. 
In Vinney Ridge Wood several grand beeches are seen ; and the 
Eagle Oak—one of the old landmarks of the Forest, and scarcely 
inferior in size to the Monarch Oak in Knightwood—was seen and 
greatly admired. It is a venerable-looking tree, with a massive 
rugged stem having the great girth of 19 feet 7 inches at 5 feet up. 
