286 SYLVAN WINTER. 



though it is probable that the best of the trees 

 now left upon Mount Lebanon are only the refuse 

 of the ancient race, as we may well suppose the 

 best were occasionally taken first. If Solomon's 

 botanical works had still been preserved, it is 

 probable we should have met with trees of much 

 larger dimensions than those which either Maun- 

 drel or Van Egmont measured.'* 



Mr. Hunter mentions a Cedar of Lebanon at 

 Strathallan girthing about twenty feet three inches 

 at one foot from the ground, and fifteen feet nine 

 inches at five feet up. At Garse of Gowrie, he 

 says there is one, girthing twenty -seven feet at 

 the ground, sixty feet high, and breaking at three 

 feet from the ground into four limbs, the prin- 

 cipal one being fourteen feet six inches in girth, 

 and the others about eight feet. 



The ' Chestnut of a hundred horses/ on Mount 

 Etna, has a reputation which is world-wide. 

 Referring to it, Gilpin says : ' One of the noblest 

 trees on record is the Chestnut upon Mount Etna, 

 called the Castagna de cento cavalli. It is still 

 alive, but has lost much of its original dignity. 

 * ' Forest Scenery,' pages 170-1. 



