204 THE LAECH. 



and were 90 feet in height. The largest measured 

 2 1 feet in girth at the base, but this chiefly arises 

 from inequalities and protruding portions of the roots. 

 The tree tapered very quickly in the bole, and did not 

 carry up timber like those at Dunkeld, but was more 

 ornamental, being feathered with branches to the 

 bottom." 



The larches at Monzie Castle, though originally six 

 in number, are now only four. They are said to have 

 been planted in 1736 or 1738, and brought or sent 

 by Mr. Menzies of Glenlyon, who brought the Dunkeld 

 ones. One of them was cut down many years ago, but 

 for what purpose is unknown, and a growing lime-tree 

 was planted to mark the site. The stool or root part 

 (about three feet) of the other one is fresh, and indicates 

 having been a noble tree. It girths i 5 feet 3 inches 

 round above the swell of the roots, and 2 feet 9 inches 

 diameter where cut off, exclusive of bark and sapwood, 

 both of which are quite w^asted away. 



No. I, the largest of the four, girths 2 6 J feet above 

 the surface of the ground, at three feet up 17 feet 6j 

 inches in girth, and at five feet up 1 7 feet i inch. It 

 stands 103 feet high, and contains about 380 cubic 

 feet of timber, including bark. The tree is clothed 

 with branches to near the ground, some of which are 

 over 45 feet in length, twisted and curved fantastically, 

 and are suspended on forked poles to keep them from 

 injury. On the south side the branches hang over the 

 carriage drive and dip in the waters of an ornamental 

 lake. This is truly a magnificent tree, picturesque, 



