STATE AND PROSPECTS OF ARBORICULTURE IN HAMPSHIRE. 529 
King’s Sombourne, near Stockbridge, measuring 11 ft. 2 in, 
forking into two at 7 ft. up. 
Of the upright growing Cornish Elm (U/mus cornubiensis), there 
are a few fine trees in the county. Three miles from Winchester, 
down the fertile valley of the Itchen, is Shawford Park (Sir 
Charles Frederick), On entering the park by the wicket from 
the stables, there is one on each side, girthing 7 ft. 10 in. and 8 ft. 
10 in. respectively, and reaching a sheer height of 130 ft. They 
are fine trees, and the leader goes almost as straight as a larch to 
the top; soil, rich alluvial, on the chalk. 
About a mile and a half from here, south-west across the downs 
to Otterbourne, and in the grounds of the authoress of the ‘ Heir 
of Redclyffe” (Miss Yonge), there is one with a circumference of 
8 ft. 3 in., and a height of 115 ft. ; soil, alluvial, on the plastic clay. 
There are no specimens of the other varieties of elm worthy of 
note. 
The Asn (Fraxinus excelsior), in comparison with our other 
common trees, is getting scarce in the county, and is steadily 
rising in price, as it can be used almost for any purpose; and in 
many cases it has no substitute for the coachbuilder, wheelwright, 
boatbuilder, and for capstan bars, handles of axes, spades, picks, 
hammers, and other tools. The price may be stated at from ls. 
to 2s. 3d. per foot. 
REMARKABLE AsH TREES. 
Headley Park, to the north of Woolmer Forest, is an ancient 
demesne, now the seat of Sir Henry Keating. On the north 
slope of the park is an ash with a circumference of 17 ft. 8 in. at 4 ft. 
up, and at 4} ft. it branches into six limbs, which have a spread 
from north to south of 27 yards. This is altogether the finest speci- 
men I have seen in the county ; soil, clay, on the Folkestone beds. 
In Hurstbourne Park, to the east of the mansion, near two 
large oaks, is a fine tree, witha girth of 16 ft.; but, unfortunately, 
my notes give no other details of it ; soil, clay, on the chalk. 
On the fosse of the ruins of Merdon Castle, in Hursley Park, 
once a stronghold of Bishop de Blois, brother to King Stephen, is 
another with a circumference of 15 ft. 1 in. ; it is hollow and other- 
wise decayed, which, however, is in keeping with the decaying 
grandeur of this ancient pile; soil, moved chalk, 
Tn the valley of the river Test, at Longparish, and by the side 
