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140 The Trees <strong>of</strong> Great Britain and Ireland<br />

63 feet by 5 feet 3 inches, and proves that <strong>the</strong> tree will thrive on good soil even in <strong>the</strong><br />

east <strong>of</strong> England.<br />

At Williamstrip Park, Gloucestershire, <strong>the</strong> seat <strong>of</strong> Lord St. Aldwyn, <strong>the</strong>re is<br />

a tree 45 feet by 5 feet, probably one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first introduced.<br />

At Penrhyn, North Wales, <strong>the</strong>re is a fine tree, 64 feet by 5 feet 5 inches.<br />

The best example I know <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> Cryptomeria as a forest tree is at<br />

Tan-y-bwlch, in Merionethshire, <strong>the</strong> property <strong>of</strong> W. E. Oakeley, Esq., where a large<br />

number <strong>of</strong> seedlings were raised about 40 years ago from a tree which is now 62 by<br />

6 feet, and has apparently not grown much lately.<br />

The best <strong>of</strong> its progeny, growing on a slate formation where rhododendrons<br />

flourish exceedingly, near sea level, is already 53 by 4^ feet, and many o<strong>the</strong>rs average<br />

about 40 by 3^ feet. Some are growing among beech and oak, o<strong>the</strong>rs in a plantation<br />

<strong>of</strong> larch and Corsican pine facing north. In <strong>the</strong> latter <strong>the</strong> average girth <strong>of</strong> 8 <strong>trees</strong> was<br />

3iy feet, whilst larch <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same age was little over 2 feet, and Corsican pine about<br />

<strong>the</strong> same. Mr. Richards, forester to Lord Penrhyn, who saw this plantation shortly<br />

after it was made, agreed with me that its success would amply justify planting<br />

Cryptomeria on a large scale in North and West Wales in sheltered places on good<br />

land up to about 300 feet above <strong>the</strong> sea. But, judging from a large board sent<br />

me by Sir John Llewellyn, grown in South Wales, <strong>the</strong> timber is much lighter and<br />

s<strong>of</strong>ter than it is in Japan, and perhaps will not be equal for outside work to that <strong>of</strong><br />

Douglas fir grown on similar land.<br />

At Dynevor Park, in Caermar<strong>the</strong>nshire, <strong>the</strong> seat <strong>of</strong> Lord Dynevor, <strong>the</strong>re are<br />

some well-grown <strong>trees</strong>, <strong>the</strong> tallest <strong>of</strong> which is 56 feet by 6 feet 10 inches.<br />

At Belshill, Northumberland, <strong>the</strong> property o'f Sir W. Church, <strong>the</strong>re is a tree<br />

50 feet by 4 feet 8 inches, which is about 50 years old and quite healthy.<br />

In Scotland <strong>the</strong> tree seems quite hardy, and at Keir, <strong>the</strong> seat <strong>of</strong> A. Stirling, Esq.,<br />

a tree planted in 1851 has increased from 42^ feet in 1892 to 52 feet by 8 feet girth<br />

in 1905. It has <strong>the</strong> trunk covered with burrs. At Castle Kennedy, <strong>the</strong> seat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Earl <strong>of</strong> Stair, <strong>the</strong>re is a tree 56 feet by 6 feet i inch.<br />

In Ireland <strong>the</strong>re are several fine <strong>trees</strong>. At Coollattin, Wicklow, <strong>the</strong> property <strong>of</strong><br />

Earl Fitzwilliam, a tree measured 63 feet high by 6 feet in girth in 1906. At<br />

Woodstock, Kilkenny, a tree <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> variety Lobbii, which was planted by Miss Tighe<br />

in 1857, is now (1904) 67 feet high by 6 feet 7 inches in girth. Close by this tree<br />

is a wonderful group <strong>of</strong> Cryptomerias, which have been produced by natural layering.<br />

The parent tree in <strong>the</strong> centre is about 50 feet high, and around it are over 20 <strong>trees</strong>,<br />

with straight stems, which are <strong>the</strong>mselves layering, so that in course <strong>of</strong> time a grove<br />

may be produced.<br />

At Fota <strong>the</strong>re are many examples <strong>of</strong> Cryptomeria and its varieties. The form<br />

spiralis is about 15 feet high. The variety arattcarioides is 31 feet by 3 feet 8 inches<br />

in girth, very compact in habit. Elegans is 42 feet by 4 feet 9 inches. The variety<br />

Fortrinei measures 72 feet high, with a girth <strong>of</strong> 8 feet, a beautiful pyramidal tree,<br />

displaying <strong>the</strong> stem below with its characteristic stringy bark. This tree was<br />

planted in 1847. (H. J. E.)<br />

PYRUS<br />

Pyrus, Linneeus, Gen. PI. 1 45 (1737); Bentham et Hooker, Gen. PI. i. 626 (1865).<br />

Mains, Ruppius, Fl. Jen. ed. 3, 141 (1745); and Medicus, Phil. Bot. \. 1 38 (1789).<br />

Sorbus, Linneeus, Gen. PI. 1 44 (1737).<br />

TREES and shrubs belonging to <strong>the</strong> sub-order Pomaceae <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> order Rosacese.<br />

Branchlets <strong>of</strong> two kinds, long and short shoots, <strong>the</strong> flowers in certain species being<br />

borne on <strong>the</strong> latter only. Leaves deciduous, alternate, stalked, simple or pinnate ;<br />

stipules deciduous. Flowers in cymes or corymbs, regular, perigynous or epigynous,<br />

calyx-lobes 5, petals 5. The receptacle (<strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> axis) is hollowed out, <strong>the</strong><br />

ovary being attached to its interior. A disc is present, ei<strong>the</strong>r annular or coating <strong>the</strong><br />

receptacle. Ovary with 2 to 5 cells, each cell containing 2 ovules. Fruit, a pome, <strong>the</strong><br />

external fleshy part being formed <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> receptacle, while <strong>the</strong> interior or core is <strong>the</strong><br />

developed ovary; cells 2 to 5, with a membranous or cartilaginous endocarp, each<br />

containing i or 2 seeds, though occasionally some are empty.<br />

The genus Pyrus has been divided variously into sections, which some<br />

botanists treat as distinct genera. The following arrangement is perhaps <strong>the</strong><br />

simplest:<br />

A. Leaf in <strong>the</strong> bud rolled inwards towards <strong>the</strong> midrib.<br />

1. Pyrophorum. Flowers in corymbs on spur-like branchlets, ovary with 5 cells,<br />

styles free. Fruit pyriform or hollowed out at <strong>the</strong> base, flesh granular.<br />

Leaves simple. Pears : confined to Asia and Europe.<br />

2. Malus. Flowers fascicled or umbellate on spurs, ovary with 3 to 5 cells, styles<br />

united at <strong>the</strong> base. Fruit with a cavity at <strong>the</strong> base, flesh homogeneous.<br />

Leaves simple. Apples: species in North America as well as in Europe<br />

and Asia.<br />

3. Aronia. Flowers in terminal corymbs, ovary with 4 to 5 cells, styles free or<br />

united at <strong>the</strong> base. Fruit small, not hollowed at <strong>the</strong>- base, endocarp very<br />

thin, flesh almost homogeneous. Leaves simple, crenate, with <strong>the</strong> midrib<br />

glandular on its upper side. Two North American shrubs.<br />

B. Leaf folded in <strong>the</strong> bitd. Flowers in terminal corymbs.<br />

4. Hahnia. Ovary with 2 to 3 cells, styles united below. Fruit crowned by <strong>the</strong><br />

calyx, and having a hard, almost bony endocarp, flesh granular. Leaves<br />

simple, lobed. Pyrus torminalis, <strong>the</strong> only species.<br />

141

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