ON THE OLD AND REMARKABLE YEW TREES IN SCOTLAND. 399 



about 9 feet above the bed of the river, the ground rising gradu- 

 ally to the soutli. It is supposed that the roots are below the bed 

 of the river, bitt whether this be so oi' not, it is a fact that it is 

 abundantly supplied with moisture, the river overflowing its banks 

 periodically, and sometimes rising to within a few feet of the bole. 

 The age of this specimen is unknown. 



No list of the old and remarkable yews in Scotland would be com- 

 plete were it to omit the famous old yew tree at Loudon Castle, Gal- 

 ston, Ayrshire. This remarkable tree measures : — Height, 44 feet ; 

 girth at one foot, 13 feet 8 inches ; and at four feet, 13 feet 9 inches. 

 Length of bole, 6 feet, and spread of branches {E. and W.), 74 feet. 

 It grows close to the south wall of the castle. Being exposed to the 

 west, the lateral branches do not maintain the same vigour as on 

 the east side. The condition of the tree is healthy and growing ; 

 the branches rest on the ground, forming a half circle. The 

 following historical incidents are connected Avith the old yew. It 

 is said that one of the Loudon family charters was signed under it 

 in the time of William the Lion (1165-1214). One of the 

 articles of the Union with England, it is also said, was subscribed 

 by Lord Hugh under its deep shade. When Lord James went 

 into voluntary exile to Holland, he addressed his letters (being 

 afraid of detection) "To the Gudewife at the Auldton" (a few 

 houses half a mile distant) "at the old Yew Tree of Loudoun, 

 Scotland ; " and they always reached their intended destination in 

 safety. This yew is supposed to be over eight hundred years old. 

 There is also a group of large and vigorous yews at Loudon Castle, 

 of which the following four may be taken as specimens : — 



These grow in loamy soil, with subsoil of sandy clay. The 

 altitude of the site is 230 feet, exposed to the west. 



In Kirkcudbrightshire, there are three fine old yew trees at 

 Barskeoch, in the parish of Dairy. The largest is 42 feet high, 

 and measures 9 feet in circumference at one foot, and 8 feet 4 inches 

 at three feet from ground ; height of bole, 1 2 feet, where it 

 divides into three large limbs. No. 2 is 30 feet in height, and 

 girths 7 feet 6 inches at three feet from ground, with a bole of 7 feet, 

 although it has at one time been covered with branches to the 



