1580 The Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



or crowns of other trees, where they grow and flourish ; sometimes attaining a 

 considerable size and age, and sending their roots down to the ground. 

 The best example I have seen of this is in Glenaffiric, Inverness-shire, where an 

 immense old alder tree about ig^^ ft. in girth had been split to the ground by a 

 rowan (known in Gaelic as cuerun), which had commenced life in its head and 

 was 41^ ft. in girth in 19 10. Mr. Stephenson Clarke, the lessee of Glenaffric forest, 

 told me of this tree, which he has photographed. 



A good many superstitious ideas as to the value of this tree as an antidote to 

 witchcraft are said by Loudon and others to have been formerly prevalent ; but these 

 are now dying out except in remote districts. 



The wood is hard, heavy, and close-grained, of a grey or whitish colour, and so 

 tough and strong that it was formerly used for bows * ; but though well suited for tool- 

 handles, hoops, and even for chair-making, it is rarely used in this country. 



(H. J. E.) 



1 Evelyn, Sylva, 68 (1679), who calls it quickbeam or witchen. 



