1 66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



these "burred" parts galls, caused by Andrtcus terminaiis, v^txe 

 observed in profusion, as bright red excrescences on the bark. 

 This, it is suggested, may be a possible cause of the " burring." 

 Another feature of the wood is the occurrence of the polypody 

 fern i^Polypodwrn viilgare) and the lichen {Ustiea) on the stems and 

 branches of the trees. Some of the more decayed specimens 

 were observed to have blaeberry ( Vaccinium myriillus) and 

 rowan {Fyrus aiicuparia) growing in their forks some 15 feet 

 above the soil. A similar phenomenon is recorded in the Atholl 

 woods, Perthshire, where the polypody fern was found growing 

 luxuriantly on the stems and branches of oak trees. Of Lochwood 

 oaks McNab states: "The trees average from 9 to 14 feet in 

 circumference, and 30 to 50 feet in height ; where the branches 

 begin to diverge, the girth is generally greater than at the base. 

 Nearly all the trees are in a decayed or decaying condition. The 

 chief or upright portion of their stems varies from 6 to 8 feet in 

 height, after which they divide, and the spread of branches some- 

 times measures 60 feet in diameter, almost all of them being coated 

 with a variety of mosses and lichens. At the time of my visit, 

 these trees were clothed with the common polypody {Polypodium 

 vulgare), but notwithstanding the enormous quantity of this fern, 

 no varieties of it were seen. The trees cannot be less than 

 300 years old, and judging from their appearance the tops have 

 been removed at an early period of their growth, either for the 

 bark or to induce a spread of branches to make them useful in 

 naval architecture. The soil in which they stand is exceedingly 

 good, having been enriched with decaying leaves ; judging 

 from the mossy state of the stems and branches, it is naturally 

 damp, which has probably hastened the decay of the stems. 

 Dr Walker, in his essays on ' Natural History ' and ' Rural 

 Economy,' in 1812, says that in 1773 one of these oaks measured 

 14 feet in circumference. He also states that, judging from some 

 that were cut down, they were (in 1773) about 230 years old."^ 



In this wood the undergrowth has a better development than 

 in any other oak-wood examined. It consists mainly of hazel 

 {Corylus avellatta), alder {Alnus glutinosa) and honeysuckle 

 {Lonicera peridymenum), and in parts the undergrowth forms a 

 complete second canopy. 



The reference made to " pollarding " this wood in the above 

 ' McNab, Transactions of Botanical Society of Edinburgh, vol. ii. p. 96. 

 1873- 



