Notes Church Preen , Clevedon 199 



sions in later times ; that a large amount of young 

 shoots sprang up from the base and became welded 

 together to form the trunk ; and that the original 

 trunk has entirely disappeared, as is shown by the 

 central hollow. We may further observe that the 

 rate of difference betwixt these two points has been 

 increased in the following degrees during the last 

 hundred years. Thus : 



In 1780 the difference between base and at 4 feet was 13 ft. 2 in. 

 In 1833 14 o 



In 1889 18 8 



a total increase in that period of 5 feet 6 inches, 

 which can only have arisen from the growth of 

 young shoots from the base. 



Then we find that the amount of increase in 

 109 years is 8*3 inches, or 1*9 of diameter, equal to 

 i foot 3 inches in 62*6 years, the rate of growth for 

 young trees being i foot in seventy to seventy-five 

 years. These facts show that the base is an unsatis- 

 factory place of measurement, and that old trees 

 may increase much more rapidly than young ones. 



Clevedon. There is now no trace remaining of 

 the tree mentioned in In Memoriam, as existing 

 in Clevedon Churchyard, where the Hallams are 

 buried : 



' Old yew which graspest at the stones 

 That name the underlying dead.' 



And again : 



' Old warden of these buried bones.' 



