THE ROMANCE OF OUR TREES 



eron of Lochiel, the history of which is even more re- 

 markable. Here in 171 5 the trees were laid in slant- 

 ingly ready to plant when the men were called away 

 to take part in the rebellion of that year. The trees 

 were never planted and have grown up in a slanting 

 position close together just as they were left. 



There are in England many fine Beech woods cele- 

 brated in song and story, the most famous perhaps 

 being that known as the Burnham Beeches, situated 

 some 25 miles west of London and a few miles from 

 the Royal borough of Windsor. This remnant of the 

 vast forest that once stretched right across England 

 from the Thames to the Severn covers now about 

 226 acres. In 1879 it was purchased by the Corpora- 

 tion of London and is a worthy memorial to the 

 wise discretion and public spirit of the city fathers of 

 the time. The age of these venerable Beeches is 

 unknown. They are pollarded trees with huge, 

 burled boles and far-spreading umbrageous crowns. 

 'Neath their shade the poet Gray, author of the im- 

 mortal "Elegy," was wont to sit and read his Virgil. 

 Tradition has it that the pollarding was done by 

 Cromwell's soldiers, but much more likely it was 

 the overt act of some greedy lord of the manor at a 

 more remote period for purposes of temporary gain. 

 But, by whomsoever the act was committed, the 

 efTect has been remarkable in presenting a spectacle 

 164 



