208 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK III. such another was the Narbury Oak, mentioned in a former part of this 

 '""""'y^^ chapter.) This tree was afterwards sold for twenty pounds. 



In the same park, near the old Ford, is an Oak-tree, yet standing, of 

 ten yards circumference 



John Haitoi). In the same park, below the conduit plain, is an Oak-tree which bears 

 a top, whose boughs shoot from the bole some fifteen, and some sixteen 

 yards. 



Then admitting fifteen yards and a half for the common, or mean 

 extent of the boughs from the bole, which being doubled, is 

 thirty-one yards ; and if it be imagined for a diameter, because 

 the ratio of the diameter to the circumference is ^}f, it follows 



* My ingenious friend Mr. Marsham informs me, that there is now growing in Holt 

 forest, near Bentley, a vigorous and healthy Oak, which, at five feet from the ground, 

 measures thirty-three feet eight inches in girt ; however, neither this, nor any of the Oaks 

 mentioned by Mr. Evelyn, bear any proportion to one growing at Cowthorpe, near Wetherby^ 

 upon an estate belonging to the right hon. Lady Stourton. The dimensions are almost in- 

 credible. Within three feet of the surface (1776) it measured sixteen yards in circumference, 

 and close by the ground, twenty-six yards. Its height is about eighty feet, and its principal 

 limb extends sixteen yards from the bole. Throughout the whole tree, the foliage is ex- 

 tremely thin, so that the anatomy of the ancient branches may be distinctly seen in the 

 height of summer. Tninco, non frondibiis, efficit umbram. — lucan. This venerable tree 

 must once have been the pride of the forest, but now 



" the gray moss mars his rine. 



His bare boughs are beaten with stormes. 

 His top is bald, and wasted with wormes. 



His honour decay'd, his branches sere. spenser. 

 The following is an account of six large Oaks in Kedleston-park, in 1784: 



TREES. 



Main ' 

 Height. 



Timber 

 Height. 



4 Feet 

 Girth. 



8 Feet 

 Girth. 



12 Feet 

 Girth. 





Ft. In. 



Ft. In, 



Ft. In. 



Ft. In. 



Ft. In. 



No. 1. 



118 1 



81 9 



22 3 



19 6 



16 3 



No. 2. 



111 6 



85 1 



20 4 



17 8 



15 0 



No. 3. 



100 4 



85 0 



23 1 



19 9 



16 5 



No. 4. 



98 5 



70 0 



18 1 



17 2 



15 7 



No. 5. 



98 4 



89 0 



23 9 



18 8 



15 6 



No. 6. 



93 0 



73 0 



23 7 



19 11 



16 2 



Total... 



6l9 8 



483 10 



131 1 



112 8 



94 n 



