158 Tll.\\S.\CTIOXS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



season which contained 430 feet of timber when measured. It is 

 a pity to see so many hoary-lieaded monarchs of the forest 

 standing dead or dying side by side. They well exemplify 

 Dryden's beautiful lines : — 



" The Monarch Oak, the Patriarch of trees, 

 Slioots rising up, and spreads by low degrees ; 

 Three centuries he grows, and three he stays 

 Supreme in State, and in tliree more decays." 



The earliest planting here of any note was done by the tirst 

 Marquis of Rockingham, who lived about 180 years ago. It is 

 rather a curious fact that even the trees that appear to be about 

 100 years' growth, have not the least appearance of attaining to 

 anything like the size and dimensions of the older trees, as they 

 ai"e now showing symptoms of premature decay, by the stunted 

 and sickly appearance of the foliage that they put on every 

 season. This I attribute in a large degree to the prevalence of 

 smoke and noxious fumes, which have arisen in this locality 

 within the last hundred years or so. 



There are some very fine rows of lime-tree and elm in the 

 Park, planted in the same form as the Duke of Marlborough 

 drew up his troops at the battle of Blenheim. The lime-trees are 

 all intact, and are admired by every one, but a great many of the 

 elms have been blown down from time to time, and not having 

 been replaced, the gaps spoil the general effect. These trees ai'e 

 now about 170 years old. 



There are a great many clumps scattered up and down the 

 Park and the adjoining fields, planted with different varieties of 

 trees, but as stated before, they are not likely to attain to any- 

 thing like valuable dimensions. Consequently I maintain that 

 the Austrian, Corsican, and Scots firs are the most useful and 

 most likely trees to succeed in a district such as this. For 

 underwood and game cover we find Rhododendron ponticum the 

 most useful, although we plant several other sorts, such as black- 

 thorn, privet, and hazel, but none take so freely to the soil as 

 the Rhododendron. 



2. Rainbro' Park. 



This wood may be said to be one of the Home plantations, as i t 

 lies immediately outside of the Park, and extends to 200 acres, 

 varying in age from 6 to 150 years. It slopes to the north, and 

 has a more exposed aspect than some of the neighbouring woods. 



