Dimensions of some Trees at Poloc, Lanarkshire. 1 67 



Place it round the tree, and fasten the ends of the wire or string. 

 The guard is much the same as the cradle put round the neck of 

 a blistered horse, to prevent his gnawing the irritated part. The 

 stakes merely rest on the ground, and should be cut quite flat 

 at thebottom, to prevent their sticking in the ground. At the 

 upper end, they should have a sharp slanting cut with a bill- 

 hook, and should be threaded with the slope towards the tree. 

 The motion of the tree will not be in any degree impeded ; and 

 the bark cannot be injured, let the wind blow as it may, for the 

 guard moves freely with the tree in every direction. 



I can vouch for this guard affording perfect protection against 

 cattle ; for I had two cows (the most determined barkers of trees 

 I ever met with) in a field in which there were many single trees. 

 They had, sooner or later, contrived to get at my trees, and ruined 

 them ; and I was about to fatten them off, and condemn them to 

 death for their offences, when I hit upon the mode of protection 

 just described. My men and myself were curious to see the 

 impression that would be made on these cows by the new guards 

 when they were first turned into the field. They very soon 

 proceeded to the trees, examined the cradles round them, and 

 made several attempts with their mouths. Finding these unsuc- 

 cessful, they made an attack with their horns ; but, as the fence 

 yielded with every blow, and merely turned round, they made 

 no progress in that way. Thereupon they began stamping with 

 their feet, and, as we thought, from sheer vexation and disappoint- 

 ment. Be this as it may, they were completely defeated; and 

 my trees have now continued four years in perfect security, 

 though these identical cows have remained amongst them to this 

 day. One man can fence in this way a great many trees in a 

 day ; and the cost of the stakes, if purchased, would not exceed 

 that of one of the posts necessary upon the ordinary plan. 



Cirencester^ Jan.^ 1837. 



Art. V. Dimensions of some Treesy and Notes on the Groiuth of 

 other Trees and Shrubs) indigenous and exotic, on the Estate of 

 Poloc, in Lanarkshire, the Property of Sir John Maxwell, Bart. 

 By John Maxwell, M.P. 



The largest wych elm at Poloc, in Lanarkshire, figured by 

 Mr. Strutt {Sylva Brit., p. 140.), was, in 1812, 86 ft. high, and 

 10ft. loin, in girt at 5ft. from the ground; in October, 1836, 

 it was 90 ft. high, and 1 1 ft. 9 in. in girt close to the ground : 

 the girt, in 1836, was 16 ft. 2^in. 



The ash at Poloc was, in 1812, 9 ft. 6 in. in circumference ; and 

 in 1836, it is 10 ft. 10 in. in circumference at 3 ft. from the 

 ground; and at the surface the girt was 18 ft. 10 in. 



M 4 



