62 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 



height, and was probably a grafted plant. The lower branchea 

 of these trees are quite healthy and sweep the ground. 



Perhaps the two most remarkable trees at Dropmore are the 

 large Ahies Douglasii and the Amucaria imbricata, both kinds 

 of trees growing very freely. It may be interesting to give a few 

 particulars respecting them. The monarch Douglas Fir, planted 

 in 1830, has attained a height of 120 feet, girth of trunk 11 feet 

 9 inches, with beautiful spreading branches sweeping the ground, 

 covering a diameter of 64 feet. The leaves are also of a glaucous 

 hue, equalling in that respect many of the plants now sold from 

 nurseries under the name of Douglasii glauca. Snowstorms 

 have, unfortunately, broken down several of the upper branches, 

 but the vigorous growth the tree has made the past few years is 

 fast repairing the damage done by snow, young growths of the 

 present season varying from 12 to 21 inches in length. Eubbish, 

 weeds, and soil refuse are continually being wheeled under this 

 tree and spread to decay, which has no doubt produced very 

 beneficial effects. The seed that produced this tree was sent by 

 the Horticultural Society to Lord Grenville in December 1827, 

 and raised, and planted out here in 1830. Many trees have since 

 been raised from its seeds and planted out on the estate ; one, 

 planted in 1843, is now 78 feet high, with a girth of trunk of 

 8 feet 2 inches, spreading 39 feet in diameter at base — a perfect 

 specimen. 



Although the Araucaria is considered by many to be a formal 

 and heavy-looking tree, it must be conceded that a fine specimen 

 has a grand and imposing appearance. The largest tree here is 

 now 68 feet 6 inches in height, with abundant and vigorous 

 growth, very healthy branches sweeping the ground, spreading 

 38 feet in diameter. It is a male tree and annually produces 

 numbers of pollen-bearing catkins. No doubt the position in 

 which the tree is planted suits the requirements of the Araucaria 

 admirably. It is 60 feet from the edge of a piece of ornamental 

 water with a gentle slope of about 7 feet from the tree to the 

 water's edge. The spot whereon the tree stands was once a 

 gravel pit which was filled up when the lake close by was made. 

 Consequently it enjoys a good depth of soil and perfect drainage, 

 with fairly moist surroundings. It is occasionally top-dressed 

 with a little clayey loam. This tree is supposed to have been 

 purchased at a sal© in the Chiswiek Gardens in the year 1829, 



