HOW TO GROW GOOD TIMBER. 315 



attains to very magnificent proportions. One at 

 Siddington, near Cirencester, measures 22 feet in 

 girth, at one foot from the ground ; 18 ft. 6 in. at 

 three feet ; and 20 ft. G in. at six feet. The principal 

 limb measured 12 ft. G in., and the circumference of 

 its fine top is as much as 72 feet. And four trees by 

 the Roman Amphitheatre at Cirencester, average 

 somewhere about 12 feet round at six feet from the 

 ground. Trees of this size, from their light, silvery 

 foliage, give great character to the surrounding scenery. 



These soft- wooded trees, with some poplar and 

 other ornamental trees, furnish a more or less light, 

 soft, spongy wood, very inferior for timber, but yet 

 capable of being put to various uses in turnery, 

 internal work, &c, in which white wood is employed. 



The Coniferce (Cone-bearers). — The Fir tribe may 

 well form a subject even for a separate volume, for 

 not only are some of them employed as timber trees, 

 but many are grown for their curious and interesting 

 structure. 



The Finetum has become to be a matter of amuse- 

 ment to many a country gentleman throughout the 

 country ; and in these are collected such new forms 

 as may in time become useful to the planter, as well 

 as such minute species as may illustrate the natural 

 history of a subject well worthy of extended study. 



Amongst our giants of this natural order may be 

 placed the yew (which has been made a separate order 

 under the name of Taxacece) and the cedar ; the 

 spruce-fir, Scotch-pine, and larch being the more 

 useful members as timber trees. 



The Yew (Taxus baccata) is generally considered 

 as an indigenous tree, and as we can certainly point 

 to individuals that must have weathered nearly, if 



