206 THE LAECH. 



exposed to the south and east, and sheltered from the 

 north and west by rising ground and timber trees. 

 Though now 143 years old or thereby, they show no 

 signs of decay, and to all appearance may continue 

 growing to 200 years or upwards. 



Monymusk. — The Monymusk larches are of sujBQ- 

 cient importance to merit a paragraph all their own. 

 Two miles north-west of Monymusk, on the north bank 

 of the river Don, lies Paradise, a most delightful spot. 

 It lies on a plateau at the foot of a high hill which 

 protects it from the west, and on the north and east 

 is sheltered by the great mountain Benachie, 2\ miles 

 distant. It stretches along the bank of the river about 

 220 yards in length, and 75 yards or thereby in breadth. 

 Several of the larch and other trees have been carefully 

 and repeatedly measured, and have letters upon them 

 which preserves their identity. Some of the letters are 

 now, however, scarcely legible, while others are quite 

 distinct, amongst which are those marked B, C, and E, 

 and the better to show at a glance their dimensions 

 and increase of growth, they are presented in the 

 annexed tabular form. 



The nine last trees in the table, though not so large 

 as the preceding three, are yet truly noble specimens, 

 and any one of them a subject worthy of admiration. 

 An accurate measurement of the height of all the trees 

 is at present impracticable, other trees intercepting the 

 view with their spreading branches, but it may be 

 accepted that their heights vary from 95 to 102 feet, 

 and contents from 175 to 416 cubic feet. The grove 



