ARBOKETUM AND IKITKKTI .M 



I'.VMT 111 



The tiirt of the largest 

 common spruce on 

 the estate is ,j ft. 

 1 1! in. at the surface 

 ot' the ground; and 

 that ot' the large*'- 

 black spruce is ft. 

 1 in. The peculiari- 

 ties of growth which 

 we have mentioned 

 are shown in several 

 specimens in different 

 parts i>f the proper- 

 ty ; the most fantastic 

 of which is one <;row- 

 ing in the centre of 

 a piece of elevated 

 mossv ground, about 

 an acre in extent, 

 and \\ithin the bound- 

 ary of the kitchen- 

 garden \\all, called the 

 Wilderness. This tree 

 has received the ap- 

 pellation ot' the Tra- 

 velling Fir. on ac- 

 count of its branches 

 having taken root 

 vsherever the\ have 

 come in contact \sith the soil. In this specimen (//if. "^1/j., to a scale of 

 1 in. t<> 1'^tt.), main natural layers trom the trunk, and from the primary 

 substems, have taken root, so as to torm a double series of \oung trees, 

 in t\\o concentric circles round the parent trunk. The depth of the peat 

 soil \\here this remarkable spruce grows is about lift. That portion of 

 the branch which is between the trunk of the original tree and the part where 

 it roots into the ground, and \\hich is sometimes several teet in length, rarelv 

 increases in diameter alter its cxtremitv has rooted (as sho\\n in //if. ~2~1 I'i., 

 a scale ot 'i in. to 1 -tt.). It these horizontal branches do increase in dia- 

 ter, it i- in a ver\ -li-h.t decree; as some branches proceeding both from 

 main trunk and trom prmiar\ substems, m the first concentric circle 

 o* \Kini_' tree- formed b\ them, van trom :> tt. to (i tt. in length, and art; 

 oni\ from \\\\\. to 'i in. in diameter; \\hile their extremities, \\hich have 

 rooti d m the Around, and assumed the appearance ot stems, van trom (Jin. 

 IK -^it. in i -ircnmt' rence. I he branches proceeding trom the primary substems 

 have also branches, cijualiv healthy with themselves, proceeding from them, 

 even appearance ol their producing others ; which, if allowed room, 

 jonrse ot' time, cover the \\hole Wilderness. That portion of the 

 in, or trunk of the parent tree, which remains above the surface of 

 soil, i- little more than I It . high bet ore upright branches are produced ; and 

 1 ft. in it s greatest circumference. These upright branches, or rather limbs, 



eight. The j)rmiar\ substcms, \\hich constitute the 

 omii: tree>, vary from M't. to :t.')\\. in height; and 



ai'e trom .'io tt. to .'i.'j it. in 

 inner concentric circle of 

 the secondan substem-., whii'h form the trees of tlu' outer circle, are from 

 I ft. to l< tt. In-h. There are npuards of thirty rooted stems .surrounding 

 the mother tree; and .'in It. i-, the greatest diameter <;t the .space covered 

 bv stolointeroiis branches; though in one case a secondary la\er has reached 

 a~, far as Is ft. from the main trunk. The other specimen- of this kind of tree 

 were far interior in si/e to the one now described ; perhaps ouing to the cattle 

 browsing the side .shoots, and destroying the tops of the young offspring; 



