44 
oak which had been struck by lightning in a recent storm. 
The lightning had loosened the bark on one side, and had left 
a spiral-like gap about 2 inches in width down the injured side 
of the bole. 
LYNEDOCH. 
Lynedoch, belonging to the Earl of Mansfield, was the next 
stoppage. The drive from Methven Wood to it was through 
some fine woodland scenery, on the north side of the river 
Almond, which was crossed at the bridge of Dalerue. The chief 
objects of attraction at Lynedoch—which formerly belonged to 
General Sir Thomas Graham, of Peninsular War fame, after- 
wards Lord Lynedoch—are the two famous Douglas fir trees, 
of which all arborists have heard, the smaller of the two 
having produced the seed from which has been raised the 
many thousands of Douglas firs now growing on the Scone 
estates. In the sheltered valley where the Douglas firs stand 
there are many other fine specimens of forest trees, both 
spruces and firs, ranging from about 10 to 14 feet in girth, 
and towering to a height of over 100 feet, with long, straight, 
clean boles of excellent timber. A short distance farther up 
the valley, on Dronach Haugh, is the widely heard of grave of 
“Bessie Bell and Mary Gray,” who having fled from Perth in 
1666, to escape the plague, were in this secluded spot attacked 
and carried off by the fatal disease, and lie buried where they 
died, in their sylvan retreat. Their romantic story and sad fate 
attracts many visitors from distant parts to this sequestered 
nook in the valley, to read on their tombstone the simple 
epitaph, “They lived—they loved—they died.” 
To Lynedoch, and afterwards to The Cairnies, the party were 
accompanied by Colonel Smythe and Mr F. H. Smythe. On 
arriving at Lynedoch the party left the carriages and pro- 
ceeded a short distance on foot to view the famed Douglas firs 
growing ina small haugh on the banks of the river Almond. 
The larger of the Douglas firs, planted in 1834, was 93 feet in 
height and girthed 12 feet 1 inch at 5 feet up. When the 
Society last visited Lynedoch, in 1884, the measurements 
were—height, 92 feet, and girth, 10 feet 10 inches; giving 
about 180 cubic feet of timber. It is a magnificent tree, and is 
in the most perfect health. The other is 72 feet 2 inches in 
height—its leader having been broken several times—and it 
girths 11 feet 2 inches. In 1884 it girthed 9 feet 10 inches at 
4 feet up, and 6 feet 10 inches at 27 feet up. It is this tree 
(“Eve” it is named) which is the parent of all the younger 
Douglas firs, which are so plentifully disposed on the Earl of 
Mansfield’s estates, and for the sake of its cones, it is enclosed 
