398 TIIAXSVCTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH AUBOlUCULTUPvAL SOCIETY. 



It is still ill perfect vigour, and making wood annually. Standing 

 alone, its branches have freedom to spread on every side, and have 

 tlius formed a regularly proportioned head, fully GO feet in 

 diameter. It is in circumference, at one foot from the ground, 

 14 feet 3 inches, and at five feet from the ground, 11 feet 4 inches, 

 with a bole of 8 feet. 



Near the old castle of Craignethan, in Lanarkshire, there 

 are three yew trees of great age which attract the attention 

 of all who visit the castle, although few know the story con- 

 nected with these venerable trees. At some period in the feudal 

 ages the governor of the castle was a Captain Lang, a brave 

 and valiant man. On a certain day the castle was besieged 

 by the English, and a bloody fray ensued. Captain Lang, who 

 was wounded by an arrow in the breast, was borne out of the 

 battle to a spot before the mansion-house door, to wait, if possible, 

 the issue of the battle. At last there was heard the cry of "They 

 run ! " " Who run 1 " the captain called. On being told it was 

 the enemy, he exclaimed, "God be praised, I have done my duty." 

 He gave instructions that he was to be buried on the spot where 

 he lay, and three yew trees to be planted over his grave in memoiy 

 of that battle. On the barbed arrow being drawn from the wound 

 the captain expired. The lands of Chai)clknowe, near the castle, 

 " were granted to the family of Captain Lang in recognition of his 

 services," and have remained in his family till within the last fifty 

 years. The trees stand about 15 yards apart, and at a short 

 distance they look like one tree. They girth 10 feet 5 inches, 



8 feet 9 inches, and 7 feet 9 inches respectively, at three feet from 

 the ground, and are 42 feet, 3G feet, and 29 feet in height. The 

 soil is a good medium loam on a gravelly subsoil. 



There is a fine specimen of yew tree growing on the banks of the 

 river Gryflfe at Craigends, in Renfrewshire. Its height is 41 feet 



9 inches ; the girth, at one foot from the ground, is 21 feet ; and at 

 two feet up it breaks into fourteen limbs, the girths of which range 

 from 9 feet to 3 feet. These branches grow in an upright uniform 

 diiection, and break out into smaller limbs or branches, whicli in 

 regular form come down to the ground, along which they spread 

 all around the tree. The circumference of the extremities of the 

 branches is 80 yards, Jind the branches grow so very close together 

 that it is with some difficulty a person can get near the bole. 

 The river Gryflfe flows on the north side of the tree, and at a 

 distance of GO feet from the stem. The hei'dit of the tree is 



