STATE AND PROSPECTS OF ARBORICULTURE IN HAMPSHIRE. 531 
is without a flaw in trunk or branches ; soil, deep alluvial, on the 
Upper Greensand. 
In the ancient churchyard of Lockerly, situate about 14 miles 
to the west of Dunbridge Railway Station, on the Bishopstoke 
and Salisbury line, stands a yew on the south side of the church, 
with a circumference of 23 ft. 4 in., which is only 1 ft. 10 in. less 
than the Selborne one, but does not look so healthy, and has only 
a height of 32 ft. ; soil, clay, on the plastic clay. 
In a meadow, called ‘‘ Nut Orchard,” at the village of Hurst- 
bourne Priors, near Whitchurch, is one with a girth of 23 ft. 
10 in., which is 6 in. more than the Lockerly one, but it is a very 
rugged specimen, and is only remarkable for its large girth ; soil, 
clay, on the chalk. 
In Little Sombourne Park there are a number of very old 
yews, many of them quite hollow, riven and torn with the wear 
of centuries, and although not so large as those mentioned, yet, 
if I were to express an opinion, I would say that they were older 
—no doubt the survivors of the time when, in the adjoining 
parish of King’s Sombourne, John O’Gaunt hada park and palace, 
and which are still held under the Duchy of Lancaster, and where 
there are the remains of archery butts for his retainers to prac- 
tise, being a lover of the sport, as Shakespeare has it in “ Henry 
LV.,” when Justice Shallow says, on being told of the death of 
Old Double: ‘“‘ Dead! he was an excellent shot! John of Gaunt 
loved him, and betted money on his head,—and dead.” The 
largest is at the back of the kitchen garden; it is quite hollow, 
and has a girth of 21 ft. 4$ in.; soil, clayey loam; subsoil, 
chalk. 
On Hall Farm, Michelmersh, near Romsey, and by the side of 
the footpath, is one with a circumference of 20 ft. 4 in. at 18 in. 
up, it then branches into three limbs, the largest girthing 16 ft. 
4in. This is a fine headed tree; soil, clay, on the chalk, 
One in Durley Churchyard, near Bishopstoke, has a cireum- 
ference of 20 ft. ; soil, alluvial, on the Lower Bagshot beds. 
To enumerate all the notable yews in this county would be an 
essay by itself, so I have only given the largest. 
The Birou (Betula alba) is plentiful in the north and south 
divisions before mentioned, but as timber it is of little value. 
Price, from 4d, to 6d. per foot. 
