156 



THE ASH. 



In the parish of CiirV;, about six miles from 

 the Lizard point, in Cornwall^ stands a verv fine 

 Ash, known by the name of Cnry Great -Tree." 

 Although in dimensions it does not equal those 

 above mentioned, it is worthy of notice as being 

 the largest Forest-tree in the extreme southern 

 promontory of England, and for the veneration 

 in vvdiich it is held by the inhabitants of the 

 surrounding district. It is picturesquely situated 

 in the centre of an area formed by the junction of 

 tlu'ee roads, and extends its bulky arms over the 

 greater part of the open space, a diameter of about 

 seventy feet. At the siu'face of the ground it 

 measures twenty-seven feet in circumference ; at 

 five feet from the ground, fourteen feet. It is 

 hollow internally, the cavity at the ground mea- 

 suring five feet, but presently decreasing to three 

 feet ; at about fourteen feet from the ground it 

 sends out six spreading limbs, two of which have 

 long been broken off' close to the bole, and all the 

 rest are much battered at the extremities."^ 



Some years ago " Cury Great-tree" enjoyed con- 

 siderable notoriety from being frequently selected 

 as a place of rendezvous for smugglers : and not a 

 few stories of lavdess violence perpetrated under its 

 spreading branches are current in the neighbour- 

 hood. An incident related to me by Captain 

 Head is worthy of recordino- as affordino- a strikins: 

 contrast to the pacific disposition of tlie present 

 inhabitants of the surrounding district. I recol- 

 lect having heard from my father that when he 

 was a boy of about ten years of age (which must 



In the spring of 1848. during a violent storm, a large limb of 

 this tree fell with a terrific crash, to the imminent danger of some 

 persons who were at the time passing in a carriage. 



