22 
Esk valley, a grand specimen of larch was measured, and showed 
a girth of 12 feet, at 5 feet up, with nearly 50 feet of a clean bole 
to the first branch. This grand tree leaned considerably off the 
perpendicular, but was in vigorous health, and could not be easily 
matched, as a timber tree, in this country. A number of other 
splendid larches, with clean stems 60 to 70 feet in length, were 
observed in the grounds and on other parts of the estate, all 
well-grown and generally free from blemish of any kind. The 
opinion was freely expressed that the district was peculiarly well- 
adapted for the growth of this most profitable of forest trees. 
Some of the finest larches in the Wilderness were found by the 
dendromoter to be about 120 feet high, and were computed to 
contain between 200 to 250 cubic feet of timber, exclusive of 
top-wood and branches. 
In the grounds just outside the Wilderness, a group of oaks 
and poplars, planted by Mr Dundas about forty-five years ago 
as an experiment, were pointed out as an example of the rate 
of growth of each species, An average oak—Q(Quercus robur 
pedunculata—had a stem-girth of 4 feet 6 inches, at 5 feet up; 
stood about 50 feet high, and contained about 12 cubic feet of 
timber; while a poplar, Populus monilifera, or the “ Black 
Italian Poplar,” had a height of about 100 feet, a girth at 5 feet 
up of 9 feet 6 iuches, a clean bole of 45 feet, and was estimated 
to contain about 90 cubic feet of timber. The difference in value 
between oak and poplar timber, compared with their rate of 
growth as there shown, formed a nice problem for discussion, the 
prevailing opinion leaning towards “ quick returns.” 
A short walk along the ridge between the Esk and the garden 
glens, brought the party to the rustic Moss House, standing on 
the extreme point of the ridge and overlooking a landscape of 
rare beauty, with a lovely stretch of the richly-wooded glen of the 
South Esk, lying immediately in front and far below. Towering 
conspicuously amid the greenery of the glen, were some very tall 
and shapely Norway spruces, of a peculiarly fastigiate habit, and 
thickly clothed from base to apex with compact branches, the 
trees standing erect like gigantic emerald pillars. Along the 
slopes of the glen, and in its sheltered nooks, were seen many 
fine healthy examples of the rarer coniferz, indicating by their 
vigour, depth of colour, and well-furnished branches, the happy 
circumstances in which they grow, and promising at an early 
period to rival, and perhaps excel the Norway spruces in stature 
