Cullurc.—Mr Palmer's reports on the worst effects of the winter of 1860-61 on this tree, give the
following results:—
England
Scotland
Ireland
ch Injured I Injured
An analysis of the situation of the placcs which suffered most gives no ver)" definite data for generalization.
No doubt the most southern counties, Cornwall, Sotnerset, Devon, &c-, escaped without injury; but mere
increase of l.ititude is not at all uniforinl)' accompanied widi increase of mortalit}', the tree having escaped
unhurt in many of the northern counties, while it suffered severely in others more to the south. The situation
of individital localities probably had much to do with the amount of mischief Many fine trees, which
hati lived unhurt for twenty-five years, fell victims to the severity of that winter; and many which had lived
through it, gave way in the winter of 1862-63, their constitution having not, perhaps, fully recovered from
the previous attacks of that of 1S60-61. In fact, probably, more perished in 1862-63 than in 1S60-61.
Nevertheless, inany finer than any that have gone still survive, as will be seen from the following list of the
heights and ages of some ofthe most remarkable trees in England, taken subsequent to 1S60 :—
D Licks .
I7
73
37
1867 Devon
Wigtownshire
Cork .
Castle Kennedy .
Castle Martyr .
: »5
55
Sussex Beaufort 41K
39
Forfar
Siaffor.hhire
Yorkshire .
Camperdown
Biddulph Grange .
Mulgrave Castle . i
30
30 Bedfordshire
Antrim
•Suiherland .
Woburn Abbey .
Birch Hill .
Dunrobin Castle .
53
23
25
Kilkenny . Woodstock Park . 39 30 1 1863 Perthshire . Taymouth . '9
Lancashire , Holkar 36 20 1 1862 Dupplin Castle
Devonshire , Egge-ifonl . 55 Murthly Castle . —
RuiUiid Iklvoir Castle . 30 Devonshire '5
Surrey Ockham Pork 33 1867 Fife , Donibristle . 26
Cairnsmore 32 Caledon Hill
3' _ Cardijpn H.jfoa . , 20 18
Ni>rthumlierland . Belsay Castle . , .867 w'"rf d • ' Lisraore Castle . 20
Caldcrstoiie Montgomery . Powis Ca.stle 20 1
Surrey Wimbledon 30 35 Denbighshire Coed Coch .
Kew . . ; 5' . 70 1867 Westmoreland Ambleside . 20 31
Bicton 30 Cornwall . Bownnoe .
Montrose . CraiKO , , ; 30 ! Devc;nshire Watcunibe .
Gloucestershire Tortwonh Court - ' • Cuerden Hall 1 JQ 16
' Herffor.lsl.ire . ! Hatfield House , • Cornwall Curclew 20 20
nerb>shire . EK-aston Devonshire . \Voo.lovis .
Herefordshire . Bj>fordbury . : 26 1867 Middlesex . Enfield Chase . 20 20
Gloucestershire Highnam Court - • 26 ' 'IT , Norfolk Holkham . • 20 18
Keir , . . 1 26 ! • Shropshire . HaNton Hall 20 24
Re.llp.if , j • Cheshire Norcliffe . • 20
• Suffolk Easton Park 23 !o B,Tkshirc . \V;nd.sor , ! 17 15
Herts . .\ldcnham .Abbea-. 25 1867 Isle of Wight Osborne - 25
Peebles IJaUvick 20 1862 Denbighshire Hafodunos , ' 15
The finest of these trees are the well-known specimens at Dropmore, of the largest of which we give
portniit. It is a male, and is now upwards of 60 feet in height. In June 1867, it was 50 feet. Its stei
i ' - i H f i H J t o M l t t i y i ^
was then 6 feet 7 inches in girth near the ground; and, at 3 feet from the ground, 5 feet 6 inches in girth.
The diameter of the spread of its branches xvas 26 feet 4 inches. I-or several years previous it had been
covered with magnificent catkins. It grew 5 feet in fouryears, it having been 43 feet in height in 1863. Its
subsequent growth has been at the rate of about 6 inches each year. There are other fine A r a u c a r i a s at
Dropmore. but none equal to the one in qtiestion. Its sui)rcmacy is probably due to the conditions in which
it is situated, viz., growing on a mound of soil placed in the site of an old gravel pit, filled up and raised
naany feet. Mr Frost, the gardener at Dropmore, says that prolxibly it has 15 feet or 20 feet depth of soil
on which to grow.
Two of the other trees at Dropmore are not far behind this specimen. They are about fifty years of
age, having been planted out forty-six years ago. The one is 2 feet shorter than that of which we have spoken,
and the other 8 or 9 feet shorter. They are growing in prepared soil 3 feet deep ami 30 feet in di.ameter.
The tree at Kew, already mentioned as having been one of those brought home by Menzies in the
end of last centur>', and presented first to Sir Joseph Banks, and by him sent to Kew. was at first kept
in a greenhouse until about 1S06 or 1S08, when it was planted out by the elder M'Nab. afterwards superintendent
of the Edinburgh Botanic Garden, After it was planted out, it appears that, not being considered
quite hartl)', it was i)rotected during winter with a temporary frame covered with mats ; and when Loudon
wrote (1836). this practice was still continued, it being thought unsafe to leave it off. At that d;ite it
had only reached 12 feet in height. It had a stunted, unhealthy appearance—all the lower branches being
gone—a sure sign that something was seriously wrong in the soil, position, or conditions of life of the tree.
This injudicious tre:itment it has never recovered. Although twice the age of any other A . imbricala
in Great Britain, it is now litde more than 30 feet high, and it was all but killed in the severe winter of 1866-67,
The finest tree in Scotland is that at Cairnsmore, in Kirkcudbright. The plant was sent from
the Edinburgh Botanic Garden in 1835, but was not planted out until 1837, when it was about 2 feet
in height. Its height in 1856 was 25 feet, the diaineter of the spread of branches 16 feet, the girth of
the bole. 3 feet from the ground, 2 feet 8 inches. It was then in a very healthy state, a perfect picture,
clothed to the ground ; an<l the lower branches being pendulous, added very much to its elegant appearance.
In 1862, it was 32 feet in height. Those which were the pride of the Edinburgh Royal Botanic
(iarden came verj' near this tree in beauty and size.
It will be observed from the foregoing list of heights of trees, that Devonshire and Cornwall do not,
in the present instance, maintain their wonted superlorit>- on that point; and the rate of growth at Osborne
contrasts unfavourably with that in the inlaml counties. At Casdc Kennedy, however, which Is only a mile
or two from the sea, it thrives luxuriantly. It stands ordinar>- cold very well, and in Its native countiy is
cxpo.sed to as much as it meets with here, unless on exceptional occasions, which may, perhaps, not occur
twice in a ccntun-. Notwithstanding its endurance of cold in Chill, it is plain that It may have too much of
it here, and we must act accordingly.
It is somewhat particular In regard to soil. The most general experience is that it must have a
good and rather open soil, although the kind of soil is of less consequence. It does not like a retentive
soil, but It will thrive even in moss if well drained, and if it bo in that state that it can extract nourishment
from the tlecayed vegetable matter. If In a moist climate, with a wcll-draincd soil. It seems not to require
so rich a soil, Mr Begble, the gardener at Casde M;irtyr, near Cork, reports that " it luxuriates in our
poor soil on our porous red san.lstone, and is even to be found growing vigorously in heaps of stones
with only a surface covering of weeds," But this is exccption.il; our own experience, and that of most
others whom we h:tve heard speak on the subject, Is, that whatever the soil be, it must have an ample
supply of nourishment. Instances in proof of this must recur to eveiy one who has grown the tree.
^Ve liave seen young plants, which have stood f,.r j'cars without growing an inch higher, and which were
the desp,air of their owner, siuklenly start away and grow vigorously on being removed into better soil, or
supplied with more nourishment, We remember, many years ago, and while the prejudice against giving
C 3 2 ] F