248 



Dr Christison on the 



[SESS. 



tliis reason, and because its regularly formed trunk and 

 smooth bark peculiarly favour accuracy of measurement, Sir 

 Eobert experimented on a larger number of this species than 

 of any other. The selected beeches were originally twelve 

 in number, varying between 5 and 15 feet in girth, but two 

 of them have no place in the table, as they proved in- 

 eligible. One of these, No. 18*, the largest beech at Craigie- 

 hall, measured upwards of 15 feet in girth, in spite of having 

 had nearly one-third of the circumference of its stem laid 

 bare by some violent storm, and is still otherwise handsome 

 and perfectly healthy-looking. A split in the exposed wood, 

 however, made the measurements for annual growth unre- 

 liable. The other, No. 13*, was a splendid tree, standing 

 quite free in Craigiehall Park, and was 12 feet 7 inches in 

 girth when measured in 1880. It was killed apparently by 

 a plague of insects, and its sad fate is recorded in a paper in 

 our Transactions l)y the late Mr Sadler. 



Of the other ten beeches seven were measured for the whole 

 deceinii:i] jiijn'od, two for eiglit, and one fcjr seven years. 

 They have all been vigorous and lieallhy-looking throughout. 

 As to position and surroundings, tlu^y may bt; thus grouped: 

 Nos. 7 and 8 are situated in ih(! Icnvesl, gi-onnd (»f tlie Fxitanic 

 Garden, and stand. No. 7 entirely, and No. 8 ahnost entiiely, 

 free from otht^r trees or shrubs; Nos. 14 and .'^>8 form part 

 of a .sliort double row of Ijccches within the enclosure of 

 Inverleith House, and are on the liighest ground of the 



