i86 REMINISCENCES OF 



scopic sections and other specimens illustrating the 

 history of this plant, but we were still in the un- 

 satisfactory condition bequeathed to us by Mr. 

 Binney, of the absence of museum specimens 

 demonstrating the continuity of the roots with the 

 stem. 



The greater part of my memoir was already 

 printed when I received a note from the late Mr. J. 

 Davis of Chevin Edge, Halifax, announcing the 

 discovery of a grand tree with Stigmarian roots at 

 the village of Clayton, near Bradford, in Yorkshire. 

 I at once hastened to the spot, and found the huge 

 specimen resting upon a platform of carboniferous 

 sandstone, and with the exception of the tips of 

 some of its longest roots laid beautifully bare by the 

 quarrymen.* 



* On the morning we had arranged to see the Clayton 

 tree, rain poured in torrents, and I tried in vain to per- 

 suade Dr. Williamson to postpone his journey. At Halifax 

 we left the main line for a local one, after travelling 

 several miles up hill; we went out into the rain, and 

 proceeded to tramp along unprotected upland paths, 

 or in sodden grass, through a perfect hurricane of 

 howling wind ; before half the distance was accomplished, 

 our boots had become pools, and our clothes were 

 saturated. 



When we reached the quarry not a living soul was near, 

 only the grey sky above, grey Yorkshire hills around, and 

 the storm raging, when the old geologist met face to face the 

 thing he had hoped so long to see. As he stood and gazed 

 at the calm big tree spreading its roots in every direction, 

 and apparently as full of life as it had ever been, the quarry 



