412 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEKDINGS OF THE [Sess. Lxvn. 



its general appearance — such as height and spread of limbs 

 and foliage — remains almost unaltered, and a third period 

 which is one of decay. The third period in the life of the 

 Cowthorpe Oak we know almost perfectly, and the problem 

 is, What was the duration of the other two periods ? Froni 

 evidence afforded by other trees, we think the time would 

 not be much more than double the duration of the third 

 period. 



In Sherwood Forest and the neighbourhood there are 

 some remarkable trees. At Studley the trees are finer still. 

 But it is at Castle Howard that arboreous vegetation reaches 

 nearest to perfection. There the natural conditions seem 

 to be exceedingly suitable to the well-being of trees, and it 

 is evident that the conditions have been aided for nearly 

 two hundred years with all the ability at the command of 

 man. 



The work in connection with building of Castle Howard 

 — the laying out of the grounds and the planting of trees — 

 was commenced in 1702, and was finished in 1731. Thus 

 the magnificent avenues there must be composed of trees 

 about one hundred and eighty to two hundred years of 

 age. The species which most abound are limes, beeches, 

 and oaks. Their condition is that of a vigorous old age ; 

 they look well, but are certainly all on the decline. Here 

 and there one has fallen as the consequence of premature 

 decay and storms. In approaching the mansion, there is 

 a number of large old oaks to be seen, 15 and 16 ft. in 

 girth, all hollow and stag-headed. This circumstance is 

 so peculiarly theirs, that one is bound to believe them 

 to be the remains of a generation which flourished before 

 that of the present plantation, and would be large and fully 

 developed trees at the time Castle Howard was building, 

 and similar in age and vigour to that of the later genera- 

 tion at the present time. Thus their decay has been 

 accomplished in one hundred and fifty to two hundred 

 years. The stage of decay at which these trees have 

 arrived is about the same as that of the Cowthorpe Oak. 

 Suppose, therefore, we take the two generations of oaks at 

 Castle Howard as a criterion to ascertain the age that oaks 

 will live to under favourable conditions, and we shall find 

 the age to be three hundred and fifty to four hundred years. 



