64 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



his request Professor Percy Groom (of the Imperial College 

 of Science and Technology, South Kensington) sent down a 

 member of his staff who took the requisite measurements. 

 He also took away a few sawn lengths, and afterwards asked 

 for the whole tree to be sent to the Timber Research Depart- 

 ment, at Poplar, to undergo mechanical tests, and also for 

 examination into structure and rate of growth. 



" Professor Groom writes as follows : — 



"'Though the timber has unfortunately been grown too 

 rapidly for use in aeroplanes, whatever its strength and elastic 

 values may be, it is nevertheless very interesting. Such timber 

 will be of use for all the structural purposes for which Baltic 

 white deal (Norway spruce) is used ; also for wood pulp.' " 



In reply to a recent enquiry Professor Percy Groom has kindly 

 sent the following notes on the further examination of the tree 

 by his assistant, Mr F. M. Oliphant, of the Department of 

 Scientific and Industrial Research: — 



" Examination of Sitka Spruce from Fonthill Abbey, 

 TisBURY, Wiltshire. 



" The * North side ' wood in which the tree was growing 

 consists of mixed hardwoods and softwoods — Scots pine, silver 

 fir, Sitka spruce (3), oak, birch, holly, etc. Time did not allow 

 of an estimate respecting the proportion of each species. The 

 geological formation is greensand and the soil is very stony, 

 covered by a thick layer of humus. Brackeff grows abundantly 

 in all open places. The wood has a general north-east aspect, 

 and occupies the slope and high ground running up from the 

 valley. The sample was taken from the plantation at the 

 summit of the slope well inside the wood where the exposure 

 is nil. The elevation is approximately 450 feet. 



"Sir Hugh Shaw Stewart has kindly given the following 

 particulars of the history of the wood : — 



"'AH the exotic conifers, which are about 60 years old, 

 at Fonthill Abbey, were raised from seed brought home by 

 the late Lord Stalbridge, then Lord Richard Grosvenor, from 

 his travels abroad in i860. 



" ' The property then belonged to his father, the second 

 Marquis of Westminster, and the seedlings are believed to have 

 been raised at Eaton Hall, Chester, and conveyed as young 

 plants to Fonthill Abbey. All these trees raised from the i860 



