86 BY MEADOW AND STREAM. 



Bala Lake, the whole length of which we passed 

 along on the western side, is not by two hundred 

 acres so large as Lake Vyrnwy, nor- is the scenery 

 which immediately surrounds it so imposing. The 

 fishing there is said to be good, and would be better 

 but for the numerous pike, which want thinning out. 



That was a stout pair of horses that drew four of 

 us and a weighty, steady coachman (always addressed 

 as "Johnny " by Miss D.) up and down those moun- 

 tain sides, and landed us safely at the Plascoch Hotel 

 Bala. This is one of the quaintest hotels imaginable, 

 combining all the good features of an ancient hostelry 

 with all the last modern appliances. Here are fine 

 old Chippendale tables, ancient carved oak chests and 

 bedsteads, and priceless old china. Here, in the hall, 

 a venerable harpist, said to be one of the best in 

 Wales, delighted our ears with the most charming 

 melodies. 



We could not stay the night, or I might have been 



be just twenty feet in circumference. Another tree forms with 

 a bough a beautiful natural arch over a path in the woods. 

 But the strangest thing is to see on some of these oaks, tall well 

 grown mountain ashes, growing on the parent oak, and now 

 forming a part of the tree. I do not know if this is a common 

 occurrence with the oak or other trees, but I have never seen 

 such a growth before. More than a dozen trees have mountain 

 ashes growing out of them. In one or two of the older trees, 

 the ash has grown up the hollow stem, its fine polished bark 

 looking like a pipe in the hollow trunk, and half way up the 

 tree, you can see the leaves and berries appearing through a 

 hole in the old oak tree. I would be glad if some of your 

 botanical readers would say if such growths are common in 

 other places. 1 " Front Beyer s Weekly News for Travellers in 

 Norway. 



