492 Growth of Trees at Flashy Hall, 



south to east and west. In this sand-bed have been discovered 

 great quantities of human skeletons. The only bones hitherto 

 discovered in situ are those of the water-rat, which prove it of 

 alluvial origin, although it is upwards of nine yards thick, and 

 60 ft. above the water. 



A beech near the last one particularised, 2 1 in. from ground, 

 planted at the same time, in 1806, 21 in.; 1816, 34 in.; 1823, 

 44|^in. ; 1830, 56^ in.; 1836, 68 in. Trees, in general, on the 

 limestone diluvium of Craven, reach water within the yard. They 

 grow well whilst young, therefore, but are not healthy when once 

 they have touched the waters. On the limestone rocks there is 

 seldom much soil ; and, although dry, it is too solid to admit 

 their roots. The ash, however, at the foot of these hills, where 

 a greater depth of soil prevails, grows luxuriantly, and has been 

 called the Craven oak. 



The oak near the garden, planted in 1787, at 3 ft. from 

 ground, in 1806, 16 in.; 1816, 28^ in. ; 1823, 33iin. ; 1828, 

 39iin. ; 1830, 41|in.; 1836, 52 in. This oak is situated so 

 near the level of the water, that it may probably partake, in 

 some measure, of the debris of the shale which causes it to grow 

 well ; for I have observed that the oak never thrives well on 

 the limestone, unless it happens to be near the shale bands which 

 occur more or less through the whole great limestone forma- 

 tion ; and a singular fact I should wish to mention here : — The 

 common laurel (Cerasus Laurocerasus) could never be got to 

 grow on the house side of the water; and, though it shot well 

 when first planted, in a short time it as invariably cankered 

 away and died. By carting a few loads of clay, we have got 

 it to grow well, and have now some good specimens. 



A larch near the last oak, at 4 ft., now cut down : in 1806, 

 34in. ; 1816, 39| in. ; 1823, 47^ in.; 1828, 49jin. The last- 

 named oak, situated so near this larch, had increased 6 in., whilst 

 this tree made only 2 in. during the same period. 



A larch in the drive to the house, planted in 1786: in 1830, 

 66 in. ; 1836, 71^ in. 



The following are all situated across the water : — A larch 

 at the back of the lodge, planted in 1785: in 1830, 73in. ; 

 1836, 79^ in. These two last-named trees grow well : both are - 

 on the brook edge, upon alluvial gravel. Soil a fertile, light, 

 sandy loam. 



At the entrance from Meatherfield Foot, in the Low Wood, 

 stand two wych elms on each side of the path, planted in 

 1787: at 4 ft. from ground, upper one, 1806, 26^ in.; 1816, 

 42in. ; 1830, 55|in. ; 1836, 6l|in. Lower one, 1806, 23|in.; 

 1816, 39^in.; 1830, 50j in. ; 1836, 57 in. The wych elm, 

 although indigenous to the soil here, does not appear, in general, 

 to grow so well as on the limestone side ; and, were it on the lime- 



