Mar. 1903.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 399 



in the photograph. The highest twig reaches an altitude 

 of about 54: ft. 



The observations of Kobert Marsham were communi- 

 cated to the Royal Society by Dr. Hales in the middle 

 of the eighteenth century. He in various ways contri- 

 buted to our knowledge of forest trees. His measurements 

 of the Cowthorpe Oak were the earliest which were properly 

 verified by bearing the date of the measurements, and the 

 name of the measurer. Marsham was a Norfolk gentleman 

 who travelled extensively in England at a time when travel- 

 ling was not so easy, for besides visiting Cowthorpe and 

 other places, his records respecting the Tortworth Chestnut 

 show that he had wandered as far as Gloucestershire. 



Dr. Alexander Hunter, of York, published an edition of 

 Evelyn's " Sylva " in 1776, with copious notes, which form 

 a very valuable addition. Dr. Hunter corresponded with 

 Marsham and many prominent scientific men. In this way 

 he collected his published information respecting large and 

 noted trees. The yew trees near Fountains Abbey he 

 may have measured, but the dimensions he gives of the 

 Cowthorpe Oak must be of a date long before his time, for 

 they do not agree either with the measurements of his 

 contemporaries, or the proportions shown by his excellent 

 print of the celebrated tree. Dr. Hunter's work has in all 

 probability spread the fame of the Cowthorpe Oak more 

 than that of others. His dimensions of the tree are always 

 given in popular descriptions — perhaps because they are 

 the largest, — but though it is likely they once were correct, 

 they are so no longer, and in quoting them some explan- 

 ation ought to be given, or certainly a very exaggerated 

 idea will be formed of what the old tree is at 

 present. 



Major Eookein 1790 published descriptions and sketches 

 of Remarkable Oaks at Welbeck and in Slierwood Forest. 

 The Greendale Oak and others are carefully drawn and 

 described, but the tree which bears his name, and is called 

 the " Major Oak," is not mentioned by him. He had heard 

 of the Cowthorpe Oak through Mr. Marsham, but was 

 ignorant of Dr. Hunter's work, though it had been pub- 

 lished thirteen years before. This fact seems to show a 

 slow circulation of books in those davs. 



