CJ5LEBEAT15D TEEES. 189 



unable to maintain, with proper dignity, the 

 station delegated to them. This tree is at 

 present in hands which justly value and protect 

 its age. It was barely included within the garden 

 wall, which bore hard upon it. Lord Ducie has 

 lately removed the incumbrance, and at the same 

 time applied fresh earth to the roots of the tree, 

 which seems to have enlivened it. So late as in the 

 year 1788 it produced great quantities of chestnuts, 

 which, though small, were sweet and well- flavoured. 

 In the great Chestnut cause, mentioned a little 

 above,* between Barriugton and Ducarel, this 

 venerable tree was called upon as an evidence, and 

 gave a very respectable testimony in favour of the 

 Chestnuts. 



Nothing is more remarkable in connexion with this 

 account of ' celebi'ated trees ' than the fact that the 

 renowned Tortworth Oliestnut is still alive. The Eev. 0. 

 Greswell, of Tortworth, has expressed the opinion^ in' an 

 interesting communication with which he has favoured us, 

 that during his residence of thirty-eight years in the 

 neighbourhood the old tree has not much changed. He 

 says, ' The trunk of the original tree is, of course, hollow 

 and much decayed, but it has surrounded itself with a 



* See page 86. 



