394 TUANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



plant from it, both are now sacredly guarded, and have been put 

 under the charge of the parish minister. 



A frequent use to which the yew was put about two centuries 

 ago was in planting avenues. Several beautiful instances of this 

 style of treatment may be met with at the present day, as, for 

 example, at Roseneath, and also at Cleish Castle, Kinross-sliire. The 

 latter contains upwards of forty trees from 7 to 12 feet in girth at 

 three feet from the ground, and the arch formed by the interlacing 

 branches overhead presents a very striking and architectural-looking 

 vista, while the columnar-fluted pillar-like trunks of the yews form 

 a very effective picture in the landscape. It is supposed to be 

 about 300 years old. The soil is lightish loam on clay subsoil, and 

 situation sheltered. The altitude of the site is 550 feet above sea- 

 level. 



At Otterstone, near Aberdour, Fife, there are six fine yew trees 

 standing in a row, with trunks measuring from 6 feet to 9 feet in 

 girth. These have evidently at one time formed part of an old 

 hedge, but are now fine specimen trees. 



In the same county, near the mouth of the Tay, there is a 

 group of five remarkable yews. They grow close beside the 

 ruins of the old church of Forgan or St Fillans, which was one of 

 the priory churches of St Andrews, and was used as the j^arish 

 church of Forgan until about fifty years ago. The form in which 

 these five old yews are planted suggests a St Andrew's Cross, but 

 there is no tradition regarding them. Two of them are evidently 

 different in variety from the other three, having branches of a 

 lighter foliage, and more erect and upright in habit of growth, 

 while the branches of the other three droop quite to the ground, 

 and in some places spring up from it again. The largest tree in 

 the group is 12 feet 5 inches in girth at six feet from the ground ; 

 the length of bole is 18 feet. It has some splendid large branches, 

 stretching on each side to a distance of 37 feet from the trunk, and 

 grows in a light sandy soil, with a subsoil of pure sand. The trunk 

 is twisted and arranged in columns like a pillar. The other yew 

 resembling Ko. 1 shows very little difference, only smaller in the 

 stem and head. The other three yews are not so remarkable for the 

 girth of their trunks as for their branches. In this respect No. 3 

 is very striking. Ptound the extremities of the branches it measures 

 70 yards in circumference, and is shaped in the general contour of 

 its head like a mushroom. The popular tradition as tu the age of 

 tlie group places them as at least GOO years old. 



