260 On Mcamrijia- proxoina Timber. 



t>' 



base, was taken a little above that point. As there was some 

 measurable timber above the point assumed for the observation, 

 although of a coarse description, this celebrated tree, in round 

 numbers, may be said to contain 400 cubical feet by customary 

 measure. In spring, 1831, when this measurement was made, 

 the tree was ninety-five years old, having been planted in 1736. 

 There is another, within a few feet of it, of nearly the same 

 dimensions. 



The soil is rich black loam, or garden mould, of good depth, 

 incumbent upon an absorbent bottom of gravel, altogether the 

 debris of primitive schists ; and the earthy particles of the soil 

 are of the same nature. 



The situation is a level platform, about 30 ft., or so, above the 

 level of the river, and some few hundred yards distant from it. 

 The whole depth of the platform, down to the level of the river 

 and below it, is gravel. 



Some months afterwards, being near CrieflF, I went to see the 

 larches at Monzie, said to have been planted at the same period. 

 There are five of them, growing near together, in a shrubbery, 

 or old garden, close by the mansion, three of which are noble 

 trees. My time did not permit me to measure them accurately ; 

 but, from some observations made with the sextant, they appear 

 to range from 200 to 250 cubical feet, and are 90 ft. in height. 

 The largest measures 21 ft. in girt at the base; but this arises 

 chiefly from inequalities protruding forward, being portions of 

 the roots. 



This tree tapers very quickly in the bole, and does not carry 

 up timber like those at Dunkeld : it is feathered with branches 

 to the bottom, and more ornamental than the latter. 



The soil is also garden mould, but upon an absorbent bottom, 

 a little moist, and which is rendered more so by a pleasure pond 

 close by their sides, and only a few feet below their level. The 

 earthy particles of the soil are quite similar to those at Dunkeld, 

 being the debris of primitive schists. 



In 1832, Mr. Blair, the intelligent forester at Kippenross, 

 near Dunblane, requested me to measure a large larch growing 

 by the side of the Water of Allen, at the foot of the Kippenross 

 garden, which was done with the sextant, by an operation 

 similar to the one above detailed ; and the contents were found 

 to be 170 cubical feet; upon which he informed me, after he saw 

 the result, that, in the previous year, he had it measured in the 

 usual manner, by ascending it with a ladder to obtain the height 

 and girt, and had made it 1 72 ft. 



The soil is garden mould upon an absorbent bottom of gravel, 

 about 10 feet above the level of the water, and within a few 

 yards of it. The earthy particles have a small intermixture of 

 the debris of primitive schists, but are chiefly derived from the 



