206 PERNTEHERST CASTLE 



from an account which followed a ^•isit, in 1888, of tlie 

 members of the Koyal Scottish Arboiicultural Society. " Tlie 

 great feature of attraction was a row of remarkable old Lime 

 trees situated at a little to the South of the Castle. They 

 are half-a-dozeia in number, and are especially noteworthy for 

 the curious and unique formation of their gigantic ai-ms. 

 These have assvimed a somewhat fantastic shape which is 

 seldom seen in forest trees ; and thev were examined with 

 great interest. Striking out at right angles from the stem 

 they suddenly take a dip and assume a broad flattened shape, 

 wide at the base and nai-row at the top, for a considerable 

 distance, and then spring upwards into a tapering stem, 

 i-esembling somewhat the keel and prow of a ship. This 

 curious fiat shape of the lower part of the limbs was thought 

 to be due to the natural accumulati(.)n of tlu> sap, forming 

 wood at, and chiefly below, the bend of the arm — a beautiful 

 provision of nature for strengthening the stem of the branch, 

 so as to enable it to bear the great weight of the head. 

 The girth of the six trees ranged from 15 feet 9 inches to 

 18 feet 3 inches, with an average height of 93 feet, the 

 largest covering an area of 80 feet in diameter. Near by is 

 a very fine specimen for such a high altitude of the common 

 Yew — about 500 feet above sea-level — measuriiig 10 feet 7 inclies 

 in girth. It is believed to have grown from seed naturally, 

 its probable age being 500 years. In w^alking through the 

 grounds of Fernieherst attention was drawn to a clump of 

 natural Birch forming part of the old Jed Forest ; and in the 

 natural wood known as the "Hagg," there are a large number 

 of Oaks springing from original stocks, the crooked character 

 of whose gnarled stems indicate their rugged nature." 



This place of aforetime pomp and splendour ; the scene of 

 the baron's courts ; the trysting place of lords and ladies, 

 with its seasons of x'oyal state and banquetting, and the 

 attractions of the chase ; the grey towers, and tlie courtyard 

 which had rung witli the hoofs of hostile steeds : — 



" Fled is the banner'd war and hnshed the drum ; 

 The shrill-toned trumpet's angry voice is dumb ; 

 Invidious rust corrodes the bloody steel ; 

 Pai'k Hud dismantled lies Ibe ancient peel," 



