56 



LETTERS ON TREES. 



are some at Fountain's Abbey, near Ripon, in York- 

 shire, which are behoved to be more than 1200 years 

 old ; there are two in the Churchyard of Crowhurst, 

 in Surrey, 1450 ; and one at Fortingall, in Perthshire, 

 from 2500 to 2600 years old. One in Brabourn 

 Churchyard, in Kent, is said to have attained the age 

 of 3000 years ; and another at Hedsor, in Bucks, 

 which is still in full vigour, and measures above 27 

 feet in diameter, is reckoned to be above 3200 years 

 old. These estimates, indeed, founded on data sup- 

 phed by De Candole, are probably too high — the 

 Yews in this country being, it is now suspected, less 

 slow in their growth than those on the Continent, at 

 least than those examined by that distinguished phy- 

 siologist. Making due allowance for this, however, 

 there can be no question that the Yews just referred 

 to have attained to an age that is altogether wonderful. 



4. For details regarding these and other remarkable 

 trees in this country — remarkable, I mean, in respect 

 of their age and size — I must content myself with 

 referring you to the writings of Gilpin, Evelyn, Jesse, 

 and others. The subject is too extensive for my limits, 

 and would, if entered on at any length, keep us too 

 long away from the proper subject of these letters. I 

 shall therefore confine myself to a brief notice of three 

 or four trees only, the produce of other countries, and 

 either not generally known, or peculiarly well fitted 

 to serve the purpose I have in view. 



