135^ The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



was informed by the late Mr. Pitcaithley, forester to the late Earl of Mansfield, that 

 this tree was blown down about 1893, when the height above given was verified. 



The tallest that we now know of, are probably some trees on the banks 

 of a deep glen at Dupplin Castle, which I saw in 1907, and on account of their 

 leaning to one side could not measure accurately, but thought must be from 130 ft. 

 to 140 ft. high. A fine tree in the same place, dividing into two stems at thirty 

 feet from the ground, measured about 100 ft. by 12 ft. 10 in. 



At Methven, Henry measured a tree in 1904 as 125 ft. by 8 ft. 3 inches. 



At Inveraray I saw trees over 120 ft. by 8 to 10 ft., and the forester, Mr. 

 Campbell, told me that he had measured one blown down on Ben-y-Cuach 130 ft. 

 long. In the woods of Glenaray the spruce seems to grow very well, being 

 sheltered from the westerly gales ; but I do not remember to have seen such large 

 or thriving trees elsewhere on the west coast of Scotland. 



In the east of Sutherlandshire, I am told by Mr. Gillanders that spruce grows 

 well and cleans itself better than in the south. 



In Ireland we have not seen any trees of extraordinary size, and as a rule the 

 climate is not adapted to the production of high-class spruce timber. But Mr, A. E. 

 Forbes has sent me an account of a remarkable plantation near Fermoy, which I 

 reproduce verbatim, and am indebted to Lieut, and Quartermaster T. Smith, R.E., 

 for a negative which gives a good idea of this plantation (Plate 344). 



" A very fine clump of common spruce is growing in Glenshiskin Wood, which 

 forms part of the property purchased by the War Department a few years ago near 

 Kilworth. This wood occupies a valley running into the Kilworth mountains, a 

 low range of hills formed from the Old Red Sandstone formation. A small 

 mountain stream flows down the centre of this valley, and at one point, about 300 

 feet above sea-level, an alluvial deposit has been formed along its course of about 

 an acre in extent. In this deposit a clump of almost pure spruce was planted about 

 eighty years ago, and judging from appearances was never thinned or attended to 

 in any way. From time to time poles were doubtless removed from it as required ; 

 but no systematic thinning could have been carried out, as many of the trees still 

 stand within four or five feet of each other. 



" This clump probably presents as fine an example of spruce growth in Britain 

 as can be found anywhere. The trees vary in height from 90 to no ft., and form 

 long clean poles with little taper, and ranging from 8^ to 18 in. quarter-girth at 

 4^ ft. from ground. The trees in two-thirds of an acre were carefully measured by 

 Mr. M'Rae, forester at Dundrum, Co. Tipperary, in the spring of 19 10, and the 

 summary of the results obtained is given below : — 



