At Fulmodestone, Norfolk, in a wood where the Earl of Leicester has planted on a deep moist soil a large number of conifers, close enough to shelter each other, a tree was measured by Henry in 1905 as 69 feet by 6} feet. It has since been much damaged by snow, but has produced cones from which Capt. R. Coke has raised a few seedlings, and now measures only about 60 feet high.
At Enville Hall, Stourbridge, there is a tree, which now looks as if it were suffering from drought. It measured, in 1904, 68 feet by 5 feet 4 inches.
A large tree, said to have been about 75 feet high, died and was cut down at Penrhyn in North Wales in 1902. The stump, which I saw, was about 74 feet round. At Hafodunos, in North Wales, Colonel Sandbach states that this species is always nipped by the frost and forms new leaders when the old ones are killed, the growth being quite checked.
At Castle Kennedy there is a short avenue of trees of this species, averaging about 40 feet high by 6 feet in girth; but the tops had been cut off, as they had become bare and unsightly from exposure to wind. Here A. Webbiana begins to produce cones at an early age; and there is a seedling 20 feet high, with many smaller ones near it.
At Poltalloch, Argyllshire, I measured a fine healthy tree 61 feet by 5 feet 3 inches which in 1906 bore no cones.
At Keir, Perthshire, there are two trees, one with a broken top, the other 57 feet by 4 feet 10 inches, and more narrowly pyramidal than is usually the case. Seedlings were raised from the seed of this tree about ten years ago; but as a rule it bears very small cones (only 3 inches in length) with unfertile seed. A tree at Dunphail, Morayshire, has also produced small cones, which slightly resemble those of Abies Mariesii.' This tree was probably planted in 1856, and is now only 33 feet in height ; but has a double leader.’
In Ireland, A. Webbiana thrives well, and there is a good number of fair-sized trees. It is said, however, to be slightly touched by frost at Fota, in the south of Ireland, where the temperature fell to 14° Fahr. during four nights in the winter of 1901-1902. A tree at Fota was in 1903, 47 feet high by 3 feet 7 inches in girth.
At Churchhill, Armagh, the seat of Mr. Harry Verner, there was growing in 1904 a tree laden with cones, even on the lowermost branches ; it measured 53 feet by 4 feet 10 inches,
At Courtown, Co. Wexford, a tree was recorded at the Conifer Conference of 1891, as being 52 feet by 6 feet 3 inches. (H.J.E.)
1 The Dunphail tree has been described and figured by Masters as Abzes Mariesii, in Bot. Mag. t. 8098; but there is no doubt that this is erroneous. Specimens which I have seen show ordinary foliage and branches of A. Webbiana; and some of the cones are as large as those usually produced by this species.—(A.H.)
2 Thrives at Durris only in partial shade, when exposed it suffers much from late spring frosts, both top and branch shoots become clubbed and unsightly. Cones at a comparatively early age—about 25 years. Is of no economic value. (J.D. Crozier.)
