194 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and though he had many note-books with such records as the 

 date of planting of all his species of oaks, there is an immense 

 amount of information of supreme interest as to the origin of his 

 earlier introductions, from 1849 onwards, which is lost to us by 

 his death. Lord Ducie's interest in geology was almost as 

 great as that in trees. It was a constant source of interest to 

 him to show his friends how splendidly some plants flourished 

 on the Old Red Sandstone of his arboretum, which at once died 

 when removed to the Mountain Limestone on the other^side of 

 a slight depression which divided the one formation from the 

 other. He told the writer that many of his finest specimens, 

 especially of Pacific Coast trees, were grown from seed he 

 induced the captains of sailing-ships to bring home to him in 

 the early days when the species as cultivated plants were quite 

 unknown in this country. Through his love of yachting he had 

 many opportunities of meeting these men. 



Lord Ducie's body lies in Tortworth Churchyard, close to one 

 of the most famous trees in England. The Tortworth Chestnut, 

 an immense shell, but still bearing fruit every year, was referred 

 to by Evelyn in his Sylva, and a hundred years ago was figured 

 and described by Strutt. It marked the boundary of the Manor 

 of Tortworth in 11 35, and was actually brought forward in 

 evidence in an ancient contest as a proof that this species is 

 indigenous to Britain, which it undoubtedly is not. It was a 

 frequent pleasure to Lord Ducie to show his guests this wonder- 

 ful old tree. F. R. S. Balfour. 



