Nov. 1802.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDIXliUKGII. 



487 



it not more likely that the greater tree, like the lesser cue, 

 would not slacken in its rate till within a few feet of 

 attaining its final girth ? In that case about four 

 centuries, or even less, seems not at all an impossible 

 period for a Spanish chestnut, 30 feet in girth, to attain 

 its full dimensions. 



The history of the Finavon tree, continued by that of 

 the Tortworth giant, proves that the species is slow to 

 decay. The drawing of 1750 shows that even then the 

 great majority of the branches were leafless, and ten years 

 later Dr. Walker describes only " a great part of the trunk 

 and several branches " as remaining. Nevertheless it was 

 not till 1858, a century later, that it was pronounced dead 

 and was cut down. The whole period of decay cannot 

 have been much less than two centuries. 



The Dalsvvinton chestnut (No. 4) is an example of what 

 I have noticed in trees of various species, that a consideral)le 

 increase in girth may continue after serious signs of faihire 

 in the l)ranches. 



IV. The Ash {Fraxinus CM-ehiur). 



Scottish ashes above 18 feet in girth at 5 feet from the 

 ground. Chiefly from Mr. Hutchison's Table of 108 

 Scottish ashes (Trans. H. and Agr. Soc. Scot, xii., 1880). 



Number 100 feet high and upwards. 

 From 90 to 100 feet, . 



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