2298 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART JII. 



The girt of the largest 

 common spruce on 

 the estate is 5 ft. 

 10 in. at the surface 

 of the ground ; and 

 that of the largest 

 black spruce is 5 ft. 

 1 in. The peculiari- 

 ties of growth which 

 we have mentioned 

 are shown in several 

 specimens in different 

 parts of the proper- 

 ty ; the most fantastic 

 of which is one grow- 

 ing in the centre of 

 a piece of elevated 

 mossy ground, about 

 an acre in extent, 

 and within the bound- 

 ary of the kitchen- 

 garden wall, called the 

 Wilderness. This tree 

 has received the ap- 

 pellation of the Tra- 

 velling Fir, on ac- 

 count of its branches 

 having taken root 

 wherever they have 

 come in contact with the soil 





In this specimen {^g. 221.5., to a scale of 

 1 in. to 12 ft.), many natural layers from the trunk, and from the primary 

 substems, have taken root, so as to form a double series of young trees, 

 in two concentric circles round the parent trunk. The depth of the peat 

 soil where this remarkable sj)ruce grows is about 14 ft. That portion of 

 the branch which is between the trunk of the original tree and the part where 

 it roots into the ground, and which is sometimes several feet in lengtb, rarely 

 increases in diameter after its extremity has rooted (as sliown in^^. 2216., 

 to a scale of 2 in. to 4 ft.). If these horizontal branches do increase in dia- 

 meter, it is in a very slight degree; as some branches proceeding both from 

 the main trunk and from primary substems, in the first concentric circle 

 of young trees formed by them, vary from 2 ft. to 6 ft. in length, and are 

 only from Hin. to 2 in. in diameter; wiiile their extremities, which have 

 rooted in the ground, and assumed the ai)[)earance of stems, vary from 6 in. 

 to 2 ft. in circumference. The branches proceeding from the primary substems 

 have also branches, equally healthy with themselves, proceeding from them, 

 and with every appearance of their producing others ; which, if allowed room, 

 may, in course of time, cover the whole Wilderness. That portion of the 

 main stem, or trunk of the parent tree, which remains above the surface of 

 the soil, is little more than + ft. high before upright branches arc produced ; and 

 it is 7 ft. in its greatest circumference. These upright branches, or rather limbs, 

 are from 30 ft. to 35 ft. in height. Tlie primary sulistems, which constitute the 

 inner concentric circle of young trees, vary from 8 ft. to 25 ft. in height ; and 

 the secondary substems, which form the trees of the outer circle, are from 

 4 ft. to 10 ft. high. There are u|)wards of thirty rooted stems surrounding 

 the mother tree ; and 30 ft. is the greatest diameter of the space covered 

 by stoloniferous branches ; though in one case a secondary layer has reached 

 as far as 18 ft. from the main trunk. The other specimens of this kind of tree 

 were far inferior in size to the one now described ; perhaps owing to the cattle 

 browsing the side shoots, and destroying the tops of the young offspring ; 



