360 Remarhahle Trees and Shrubs 



Cawdor, there is an evergreen oak, about a hundred years old; which, though 

 exposed to the sea breeze, is in a very flourishing state. It is above 70 ft. 

 high, its trunk is 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter, and its branches extend over a space 

 the diameter of which is 50 ft. It is a very handsome tree, with a regular 

 head; and it grows in loam, on limestone. — C. Jan. 1833. 



Trees in Bagshot Park. — The deciduous cypress mentioned to you by Mr. 

 Lambert, and from which he had a figure taken when in fruit, stands in the 

 garden of Mr. Evans, a blacksmith, opposite to the King's Arms Inn, Bag- 

 shot. It has been planted about 60 years, and is about 35 ft. in height; the 

 diameter of the trunk, at one foot from the ground, is 28 in. ; the branches 

 cover a space of about 30 ft. in diameter, the head is irregular and spreading ; 

 soU, a black sandy peat ; and the substratum, gravel rather wet. This tree 

 flowers about the end of May, or the beginning of June, and it produces 

 perfect cones most seasons. It appears to me to be an intermediate variety 

 between the common kind and Taxodium distichum pendulum. Perhaps it is 

 not generally known that the deciduous cypress will strike root in water. Mrs. 

 Evans has repeatedly cut off shoots, put them in water, and placed them on 

 the mantel shelf for ornament (in the summer months) : they soon callosed 

 over, and produced roots some inches in length, the water being changed about 

 once a week. There are several fine specimens of silver firs in Bagshot Park ; 

 but the one most worthy of remark is that noticed in Vol. IV. p. 433. Its 

 height is now about 110 ft., and the diameter of the trunk a foot from the 

 ground is 4i ft.; and I suppose it to be about 150 years old. About fifty 

 years back, nearly 15 ft. were blown off this tree by a high wind, in conse- 

 quence of which the immediate top is close and bushy ; but below this the 

 branches are few and irregular : there is no branch up to 60 ft. from the ground. 



The Cornish elms, I suppose, are about 70 years of age ; the maximum height 

 is about 70 ft. ; the trunks 3 ft. 6 in. in diameter, and the spread of the branches 

 about 40 ft. ; the heads are regular and upright in growth, and there are no 

 branches to about 30 ft. ; soil sandy loam, substratum sand. They grow very 

 fast when young ; there are specimens here of seven years' growth 20 ft. high. 

 — Andrew Totuard. Bagshot Park, May S. 1835, 



Tdxiis baccdta. — There are two yew trees in Gowsworth churchyard, in 

 Cheshire, which are said to have been planted in the time of William Rufus, 

 and to be the oldest in England. — H. Leicester, Dec. 1834. 



A'lniis glutinosa. — At Elvaston Hall, Leicestershire, the seat of the Earl 

 of Harrington, there is a common alder, 89 ft. high, and 2 ft. 7 in. in diameter, 

 at a foot from the ground. The bole carries up very nearly the same thick- 

 ness above 50 ft. before it throws out a branch. — H. Leicester, Dec. 1834. 



Tlex Aquifolium. — There is a common holly in the woods of Lord Walsing- 

 ham, at Merton in Norfolk, 60 ft. 4 in. high, and 3 ft. in girth, the pendent 

 branches of which are 22 ft. long. There are several other hollies in Merton 

 Wood, of nearly equal dimensions, particularly one 57 ft. 2 in. high, and 3 ft. 

 8 in. in diameter at a foot from the ground, and 3 ft. 3 in. at 5 ft. from the 

 ground. There are also some remarkably fine old oaks in Merton Wood, 

 and a very large lime in Merton Park. — T. D. G. Dec. 1834. 



'Lauriis nobilis. — The largest sweet bay I ever saw is at Margam, the seat 

 of J. P. Talbot, Esq. M. P., about 12 miles from Swansea. It is 61 ft. 6 in. 

 high, and forms a magnificent and compact bush. — L. IV. D. Dec. 7. 1834. 



Myrtus communis. — At the Willows, near Swansea, were a few years ago 

 two myrtles of nearly the same size, the largest of which, in 1815, measured 

 15 ft. in height, and 39- ft. round the extent of its branches. These myrtles 

 were remarkably compact handsome trees, and were covered every year with 

 a complete sheet of blossoms : they were planted in the open ground in 1777 

 or 1778, and never had the slightest protection. In 1828, the circumference 

 of the branches of the larger myrtle were found to have increased to 90 ft.; 

 but the tree was become ragged, and had completely lost its beauty; in a 

 short time after both trees decayed so rapidly, that it was thought advisable 

 to cut them down. — L. W. D. Swansea, Dec. 7. 1835. 



