36 
THE FIFE ESTATES AND PLUSCARDEN PRIORY. 
Immediately on the arrival of the party at Elgin, they pro- 
ceeded in carriages that were in waiting at the station, to carry out 
the programme of the afternoon, which included an inspection of 
the woodlands of the estates of the Duke of Fife lying to the 
south and west of Elgin, and a visit to the interesting ruins of 
Pluscarden Priory. Mr William Gilchrist, forester to the Duke 
of Fife, acted with great acceptance as guide to the party during 
the afternoon, pointing out every object of interest, and giving 
valuable information about the woods and the locality, which 
were of the greatest service to the Members. 
Driving out the western road from Elgin, a fine view was 
had of the Lady Hil on the right, crowned with the ruins 
of the ancient castle, and the handsome monument to the 
last Duke of Gordon, which forms a conspicuous landmark 
in the district. Crossing the river Lossie, the attention of the 
party was drawn to the richly-wooded banks of the river, 
stretching away to the left for a considerable distance, and 
which are now the property of the burgh of Elgin. The trees 
were of a picturesque character, and the ground admirably suited 
for laying out in a natural, rustic manner, with walks and roads 
for the recreation of the inhabitants of the town and district. 
Properly handled, it would form one of the most attractive of 
public recreation woodlands in the country. Near the top of the 
rising ground the Members dismounted from the carriages and 
entered the Oak Wood, to view a notable specimen of a weeping 
birch, which, after a long hunt through the rough heather and 
bracken, and several discoveries of the wrong tree! was at last 
found towards the upper edge of the wood, and much admired for 
its size and beautiful drooping habit. On being measured, its 
stem was found to girth 7 feet 5 inches at 5 feet up, with a clean 
bole to a height of about 15 feet, and a total height of 76 feet. 
Its well-furnisbed head of healthy drooping branches measured 
55 feet in diameter, and the tree was declared to be well worthy 
of special attention being paid to its preservation by the municipal 
authorities. 
Rejoining the carriages on the confines of the wood, the drive 
was continued along a stiff road for the horses towards the 
summit of Quarrywood, a plantation covering about 900 acres of a 
