ON THE OLD AND REMARKABLE YEW TREES IN SCOTLAND. 395 



One of the most remarkable objects "with which we have met, 

 in a wide acquaintance with the old and remarkable trees of Scot- 

 land, is at Birkhill, in the parish of Balmerino, Fife. By the kind- 

 ness of the Rev. Dr Campbell we are able to supply details of 

 information regarding it. It is a curious and unique yew hedge, or 

 rather what has several centuries ago been a hedge, allowed to 

 escape the shears or hedge-bill, and overgrow itself in a most 

 remarkable way. It forms three sides of a rectangle, of which the 

 length is considerably greater than the breadth, and it encloses 

 more than a quarter of an acre of ground. Evidently it has been 

 at one time kept low as a hedge, and afterwards allowed to 

 grow to its present height. The trees stand close to each other, 

 and differ a good deal in their girth, but most of them are now 

 veritable trees. Taking the largest trees, one has the following 

 dimensions : — Girth at one foot above ground, 7 feet 2 inches ; girth 

 at four feet, 6 feet 9 inches, Another measured at one foot above 

 ground 8 feet, and at four feet, 9 feet 2 inches, swelling out before 

 it separates into branches. Another tree is, at four feet above the 

 ground, 6 feet in girth. The length of bole differs much, but in 

 general the trees separate into branches at 4 or 5 feet above the 

 ground-level, marking their height when kept low as a hedge. 

 The height of the whole hedge is close upon 50 feet; and the 

 top or sky-line is pretty straight and uniform. A few hollies 

 have got interspersed, and are of the same height as the yews. 

 The breadth of this remarkable hedge across from side to side is 20 

 yards. There is no tradition in the district as to the history of 

 tliis remarkable yew hedge, but a general idea prevails that the 

 monks of Balmerino Abbey (distant, as the crow flies, two miles) 

 had something to do with it and its formation. In old documents 

 connected with the abbey there is evidence that the abbey forester 

 had his residence about Birkhill, reference being made in charters 

 " to forester's lands ; " and this yew hedge may have originally 

 enclosed his garden and been afterwards allowed to grow Avithout 

 the application of the hedge-bill. 



The next remarkable yew tree coming under our observation is 

 probably second only to the Fortingal yew in point of age, size, 

 and historical interest, and still flourishes in a vigorous state. The 

 "Ormiston Hall yew" is situated on the Ormiston estate of the 

 Earl of Hopetoun, in East Lothian. It stands at an altitude of 350 

 feet, in a stiff loam soil, upon sandy gravel, and with a south-east 

 exposure. It has been frequently measured, and its record goes on 



