A VERY OLD ROSE-TREE. 235 



inches above the surface of the ground, from 

 whence two old branches and three younger arms 

 spread out with their twigs and leaves, and cover 

 a space twenty feet in height and twenty-four 

 feet in breadth, being arranged on a sort of iron 

 railing on the eastern side of the vault. 



' This tree has been an object of especial interest 

 to the Chapter from the building of the cathedral ; 

 and botanists attribute its present size to the fact 

 of its being sheltered from frosts and storms by 

 the different buildings and cloisters of the cathe- 

 dral, and from the touch of rude hands by trellis- 

 work. 



'Bishop Hepilo (1054-1079) had it carefully 

 spread out on the outer wall built by him, and 

 placed in the archives a record of this, as also a 

 description of the massive vault built under the 

 high altar for the reception of its root^. The 

 opening in the wall was made about 11-20; the 

 tree was in high esteem in the thirteenth cen- 

 tury.' 



Thus ends the history of this most remarkable 

 rose-tree. I have only to regret that its species 

 is not mentioned ; but as it is, in the legend called 

 a Wild Kose, it is probably Rosa canina or the 

 Dog Rose. This I hope ere long to ascertain. 



