THE LARCH. 221 
The height of these trees then ranged from 75 to 80 feet. 
The soil is dry and sandy, with a subsoil of sand, and, in some 
parts, of sandy gravel and clayey gravel, elevated from 30 to 
40 feet above the Spey, and about 400 feet above the sea. 
The larch was introduced at an early period into Aberdeen- 
shire. At Monymusk, Westhall, Tillyfour, and other man- 
sions in that county, venerable specimens are to be met with, 
which have stood since the tree was a rare plant in Scotland. 
At Monymusk House, the oldest tree is said to have been 
imported from Switzerland at an early period in last century, 
but its dimensions are far exceeded by younger trees at Para- 
dise on the same property, situated on the banks of the Don. 
This beautiful Alpine spot is composed of soft alluvial soil, 
incumbent on gravel, and drained by a mountain stream near 
to its confluence with the Don. It stands 340 feet above the 
level of the sea, and at the distance of fifteen miles inland. 
The surface of the ground is level, richly wooded, and em- 
bosomed with high mountains. Benachie, with its rocky 
crest rising 1000 feet above its base, towers aloft and guards 
it on the north. In this plain stands the finest specimens of 
the larch I have ever seen. They form an avenue, and are 
interspersed with Norway spruce firs. All these trees are of 
great uniformity in size and shape; and as many of them 
have been measured from time to time by the forester on the 
estate, I am enabled to record the dimensions of two of the 
larches, and their progress, after having attained a hundred 
years of age :— 
MEASUREMENT IN 1841. MEASUREMENT IN 1851. 
Girth at |Girth at : Cubical || Girth at | Girth at , Cubical 
surface. | 60 feet. | eight: | contents.|| surface. | 60 feet. | Zeist: | contents. 
Ft. In.| Ft. In.| Ft. In.| Feet. Ft. In. | Ft. 
In.| Ft. In.| Feet. 
No.1, .] 12 6] 4 44101 3 233 15 0) 4 9 {102 4 276 
No.2, .|12 0] 4 2/106 0| 208 14 0] 5 0 | 99 61) 269 
1 Top broken. 
