2 1 8 Yew- Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



measurements show that in forty-one years it 

 increased in diameter 1*15 inches at the ground; 

 7 inches at 2 feet ; 6*15 at 4 feet ; and 5*66 at 5 feet. 

 This is one of the examples which show how very 

 fallacious this mode of estimating age is, when 

 applied to old trees. 



Guildsfield. In Notes and Queries^ a quotation 

 is made from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 

 Wales, concerning twelve fine yews at Guildsfield 

 (Montgomeryshire). ' The churchyard is orna- 

 mented with twelve fine yew-trees, which, according 

 to a document in the possession of J. Jones, Esq. 

 of Crosswood, were planted in the reign of William 

 and Mary, and are all of the same age.' 



' Underneath one of them, near the south-west 

 porch of the church dedicated to "All Saints," was 

 a raised tomb upon which was inscribed the follow- 

 ing curious epitaph : 



" Under this yew tree, 

 Buried would he be, 

 Because his father and he 

 Planted this yew tree." ' 



Hambledon, Godalming. In Black's Guide to 

 Surrey, published in 1884, it is stated that there 

 are in the churchyard two very fine yews, one 

 30 feet in girth. Casual notices of this kind are, as 

 a rule, by no means reliable, but if the account is to 

 be trusted, this tree shows an extraordinary growth 

 1 1888, p. 154. 



