258 Yew- Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



spring the branches forming its splendid head, 

 reaching about 100 feet in diameter. 'Tradition 

 reports that under its dense shade the Scottish 

 nobles, Bothwell, Morton, Ruthven, and others, met 

 to plot the murder of Darnley.' Christison's as- 

 sumed rate of growth of i foot of diameter in 

 seventy-five years would make this tree 240 

 years old, and it might even be less than this. 

 The time which has elapsed since Darnley's death 

 is 328 years, so that the tree could not have been 

 planted until eighty-eight years after that event. 



Wilton, Wilts. Opposite a part of the park of 

 Wilton House is a fine well-grown tree, probably 

 of less than two hundred years' growth, but present- 

 ing some interesting features. 



For the following measurements I am indebted 

 to the rector, the Rev. Dacres Olivier : 



The girth at the ground level . 7 feet 8 inches 



The girth at 3 feet ... . 7 9 



Length of bole to first branch . 29 inches 



Height . . . . . 30 feet 



Diameter of umbrage . . 82 



1 The trunk is surrounded by young spray, which 

 in many places has taken root. They are still 

 extending themselves.' 



This tree bids fair to attain a great girth in the 

 course of a comparatively short period. 



Windsor Forest. There are many yew-trees 

 near the Belvedere, though none of any great size. 



