IGO 



The Forest Trees of Wiltshire. 



thrown out at the commencement of this paper, namely, that tho 

 localities where they exist should be communicated to the secretaries 

 of the Wiltshire Archaeological Society, ample materials would 

 be provided, and full justice be done to that subject which has been 

 so imperfectly treated here. To persons scientifically inclined, the 

 Arboretum at Bowood is full of interest ; for not only are there 

 specimens of almost every known tree, but they are placed 

 geographically, the ground being laid out on the plan of a map, 

 and the specimens planted, as far as practicable, in the latitude 

 and longitude of their natural habitat. But it is not in the Arbo- 

 retum alone that specimens of newly introduced, scarce, and curious 

 trees are to be found there. They abound in every part of the 

 pleasure grounds, where perhaps, the largest collection of the finest 

 specimen plants of all the known varieties of the Cedar, Pine, and 

 Fir tribe, and of the Taxads in this county may be seen. The 

 Wellingtons Gigantea is of too recent introduction for any 

 very large ones to be expected ; but there are some very fine young 

 trees at Bowood. That the next generation will see this noble tree 

 a hundred feet high, probably much more, and with a trunk quite 

 commensurate in size with its height, there is no reason to doubt ; 

 the rapidity and vigour of its growth, and its hardiness, showing 

 that the soil and climate of Great Britain are perfectly suited to 

 it. Roundway Park, too, may boast of fine specimens of this and 

 of other trees of recent introduction ; and besides, though there 

 are no very old or gigantic trees of any kind (the old Scotch fir 

 excepted), there are in the park and park-like fields sloping down 

 towards the " Iron Pear Tree Farm," many fine oaks. Thus the 

 head-quarters of the Archaeological Society being at Devizes, those 

 interested in it, residing there or near by, have excellent oppor- 

 tunities, in Roundway and Bowood of gratifying their taste for 

 the study of trees of all kinds. 



" The Wiltshire Weed." — It has just been brought under the 

 writer's notice that the elm is, in some parts, popularly called 

 " The Wiltshire Weed," and this notification was probably kindly 

 intended as a help to the indigenous side of the question ; but with 

 all thanks and gratitude, it is not very clear how it helps it at all. 



