EEPORT OP MEETINGS FOR 1906 47 



The Mansion-house was for the time occupied by a shooting- 

 tenant, and not open to inspection as on a previous visit ; 

 but note was taken in passing of a stone in the front wall 

 bearing the initials G.H. 1807. In his survey of 1542, Sir 

 Robert Bowes states that "the towneshippe of Mydleton 

 Hall" contained "two stone houses or castells," belonging 

 to Robert and John " Rotherforthe." The remains of one 

 such fortalice can be seen in an adjacent field, and the 

 other may be represented by the old Hall which was 

 situated at a point in the present pleasure-grounds, where 

 two spreading Sycamores adorn the glade. Many other 

 ornamental trees claimed attention, among them being a 

 Cedar of Lebanon, remarkably abundant in fruit, which 

 according to the latest measurement, namely 13 feet 6 inches 

 at 5 feet from the ground, shows a remarkable rate of 

 growth during the last 25 years, its girth in 1883 being 

 recorded as 9 feet 6 inches. It is 130 years old. A 

 Douglas Fir 60 feet high measures 5 feet in girth, and 

 a Wellingtonia, 7 feet 6 inches. With reference to the 

 latter, and other examples of the same species sown in 

 the spring of 1874, Mr Hughes states that they vary in 

 height from 50 to 55 feet, and that "they are in admirable 

 health and form. The environment and soil where they 

 are planted seem to favour the growth of most of the trees 

 of the temperate zone." Considerable interest was evinced 

 in a fine example of Abies magnifica, true to its narrow 

 and non-spreading character, and standing about 40 feet 

 in height. Lihrocedrus decurrens and Cedrus Deodara were 

 also well represented. A clipped Beech, entwined with 

 Honeysuckle and a climbing Rose, derived peculiar, if not 

 pathetic, interest from having been planted by two female 

 members of the Derwentwater family during their occupation 

 of the Hall. Full justice could not be done to the large 

 assortment of curious and interesting shrubs, etc., with 

 which the place literally teems, owing to the want of 

 a skilled guide such as the proprietor, a number of the 

 Conifers mentioned in the Report of 1883 not having been 

 identified.* 



* Ber. Nat. CInb, Vol, x., Part ii., pp. 279-283. 



