The Forest Trees of Wiltshire. 



161 



However, now on the eve of publication, it is too late to go into 

 the question, even if it were worth while. Should it be thought 

 necessary, some botanist will take it up and settle it ere long. 



Where the counties of Wilts and Dorset meet, down at the South- 

 Eastern corner, there is by all accounts some charming scenery ; 

 wild to a degree, but beautifully wooded. Besides an avenue of 

 several rows of sycamores, there is a grove, or rather, open wood 

 of oaks, limes, and chesnuts. The Melbury property is said to be 

 noted for the size of its oaks. There is one known by the same 

 name as the first finger in the hand, rather vulgarised from " Will 

 Wilkins," into " Billy Wilkins." It is thirty seven feet in cir- 

 cumference, and said to be as ugly an old monster as can be conceived. 



Wandering about the Tottenham domain, it strikes one that 

 most of the great single beech trees that used so to strike the 

 stranger are gone. The writer remembers well having some chat 

 with a couple of woodmen, who were cutting a noble beech into 

 billet-wood for sale, and expressing his surprise that the wood 

 should not be devoted to a better purpose. To which the man 

 replied, — the tree would bring £15 as billet- wood, but not so much 

 for any other purpose. This closed the argument. The oaks ap- 

 pear to be surpassing the beech in size and vigour, for near the 

 King stands a beautiful, growing tree perfectly sound and healthy 

 looking, the trunk of which measures twenty-three feet in cir- 

 cumference. 



Whether it be classed as a tree or only as a shrub, the 

 " Holly," when it attains such dimensions as one now growing 

 in the forest, demands special notice. It is in the neighbourhood 

 of the " King Oak," and measures seven feet, nine inches in cir- 

 cumference ! Is it under the care and patronage of the " White 

 Maid of Avenel ? " If so, who would not go at midnight and 

 invoke her, using Scott's well-known words, — 



" Thrice to the holly -bush ; thrice to the dell; 

 Awake thee, oh awake, White Maid of Avenell." 



Having called attention particularly to the Wellingtonia 

 Gigantea among the new trees, long as this paper has grown, 

 though unintentionally, it may be permitted to trespass a little 



