2-42 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



XI. Old and Remarkable Trees on the Rolle Estate, Stevenstone, 

 Torrington, Devon. By James Barrie, Forester, Steven- 

 stone. [Plates II. to v.] 



The Stevenstone Estate, the property of the Hon. Mark G. K. 

 Rolle, occupies a central position in the northern division of the 

 County of Devon. The park in front of the mansion ranges in 

 altitude from 400 feet to 500 feet above sea-level. The soil is a 

 strong loam, the subsoil sandy clay, resting on shillet rock, Wilh. a 

 very uneven surface. The climate is mild, and the soil in general 

 is favourable for the production of large hardwood timber trees. 



I purpose in this report to supply the particulars of twelve note- 

 worthy trees on this property. Although none of them may be 

 connected with historic events, yet they can be favourably com- 

 pared with many other notable trees in the South of England. There 

 are numerous other large trees on the property, but to give a 

 minute description of them individually, along with their picturesque 

 features and habits of growth, would extend this report much 

 beyond the prescribed limits. 



The accompanying album contains photographs of the twelve 

 trees, and also of a section of the base of the stem of each tree, so 

 as to convey a fair idea of their appearance and dimensions. Each 

 photograph is numbered, and these numbers correspond with those 

 given in this report.^ 



The first nine trees are situated in the deer park, some close to, 

 and others within one mile of the mansion. The trees numbered 

 10, 11, and 12 are distant from the mansion about five, seven, 

 and nine miles respectively. 



The measurements of each tree are given in a tabulated form at 

 the end of this report, so as to be more convenient for reference. 



No reliable statement can be made as to the age of these trees, 

 but I believe the majority of them are fully 200 years old. 



No. 1. Spanish Chestnut, Castanea vesca. 



(See Plate II.) 



This is a grand specimen, and a splendid type of what an old 



ornamental park tree should be. It is growing 70 yards south of 



Stevenstone House, is still healthy, and increasing in size yearly. 



' The handsome allnim fiirnislied with the Eeport is added to the Society's 

 Library. It contains twenty-four beautiful photograpluc illustrations, giving 

 a full view, and a stem section, of each of the twelve trees described. — Ed. 



