Dewm Notes and Queries. I ^^, a 8. Davy Family. — ^William Davy marru bridge on 23rd December, 1701, at Zeal Monachorum Parish Churchy North Devon. Can any reader give the parentage and ancestry of the above William Davy. By fEimily tradition he is said to have been descended from the family of Davy, who for many generations resided. in the parish of Roborough, near Great Torrington, North Devon. J, Davey, R.N. 9. Trees Mentioned by Swete (Vol. I, p. 88, par. 60). — Readers of "A Tour across Dartmoor into North Devon,. in 1789," by Rev. John Swete, may have noticed that fine trees always excited the artist author's admiration. Thus at Heanton, Lord Oxford's seat, he tells us of the oak trees " of great height and admirable bulk.'* Again at the ruins of Fnthelstoke Priory he concludes his description with a mention of ** two very antient walnut trees, overhang- ing the southern walls and with the ivy contributing greatly to enhance its beauty." And almost the final paragraph of his account is devoted to a description of "a very noble, antient, and vast oak " at '* the five mile stone from Exeter." During a recent excursion the members of the Exeter College Field Club passed the last named spot and recalled the reverend tourist's remarks. Whatever changes may have overtaken other objects described by Swete this old tree still stands and looks likely to do so for many years to come. A member of our club, Mr. P. J. Carter, retired Indian Forest Service, has kindly furnished the following notes. The girth at base was found to be 26ft. 8in., and the girth at 5 J ft. from the ground 21ft. To ascertain its present rate of growth two borings were taken with the instrument designed for this purpose by Professor Pressler, of Tharand. The diameter had increased two inches in the last eighteen years. The present annual increment of girth is thus 0*349 inches. If the tree had never grown more rapidly than it is growing now, its age would be 730 years. But it is certain that when it was younger its growth was more rapid. It might possibly have attained a girth
