the trees of great britain & ireland - Facsimile Books & other digitally ...
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152, The Trees <strong>of</strong> Great Britain and Ireland<br />
DISTRIBUTION<br />
The most complete and recent account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tree is a monograph cited above<br />
with maps by Pr<strong>of</strong>. H. Conwentz, who describes at <strong>great</strong> length <strong>the</strong> various places<br />
where <strong>the</strong> tree is found and <strong>the</strong> conditions under which it grows. It is widely dis<br />
tributed throughout most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> woods and forests <strong>of</strong> Europe, but does not occur<br />
in Scandinavia, Holland, or <strong>the</strong> <strong>great</strong>er part <strong>of</strong> Russia, where it is only met with in<br />
<strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn provinces. It also occurs in <strong>the</strong> Caucasus, Asia Minor, Syria, and in<br />
Algeria. It is found on most geological formations, including granite in <strong>the</strong> Vosges,<br />
gneiss in Siberia, and basalt in Austria; and it prefers a soil rich in humus. Will-<br />
komm says that on mountains it is commoner on limestone than on o<strong>the</strong>r soils, but<br />
<strong>the</strong> French foresters say that it is practically met with on all soils that are not very<br />
dry or very wet. It is a tree <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lowlands and hills, attaining 700 metres altitude<br />
near Zurich, 1200 in Herzegovina, and 1900 in <strong>the</strong> Caucasus. It occurs more or<br />
less rarely over all parts <strong>of</strong> Germany, especially in <strong>the</strong> north-east, and it attains its<br />
maximum size in <strong>the</strong> royal forest <strong>of</strong> Osche in West Prussia. The largest tree known<br />
to Conwentz was "25 metres high, with a clean stem <strong>of</strong> 12 metres, and a girth at<br />
i metre from <strong>the</strong> ground <strong>of</strong> 2 metres." The age <strong>of</strong> this tree was estimated from<br />
<strong>the</strong> rings in <strong>the</strong> broken trunk <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r tree at 235 years.<br />
The scarcity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tree, as a rule, cannot be accounted for by any deficiency in<br />
reproductive powers, for <strong>the</strong> fruit is produced in some abundance in good years ; and<br />
being eaten by many birds and animals, among which <strong>the</strong> waxwing chatterer, <strong>the</strong> nut<br />
cracker, and <strong>the</strong> fieldfare are mentioned, <strong>the</strong> seeds must be widely dispersed, while<br />
<strong>the</strong> freedom with which <strong>the</strong> roots produced suckers is remarked upon.<br />
The timber seems to be much more highly valued in Germany than here, from<br />
18 to 52 marks per cubic metre being given for it, according to quality, in places<br />
where hornbeam is only worth n marks. It is very hard and durable, and takes a<br />
fine polish like that <strong>of</strong> maple.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> Hartz mountains and Thuringia it is known as "Atlasholz," and is<br />
much used and valued for furniture making.<br />
The fruit is not so much valued as formerly, when it was sold in Prague and<br />
Vienna in <strong>the</strong> winter at <strong>the</strong> market, and also in Wurtemburg, under <strong>the</strong> names <strong>of</strong><br />
Haspele, Arlesbeere, or Adlsbeere.<br />
Conwentz says that <strong>the</strong> Latin name torminalis was derived from <strong>the</strong> Latin word<br />
tormina, and given on account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> properties <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fruit, to which one <strong>of</strong> its<br />
names in England, "griping service tree," also has reference.<br />
In Upper Alsace a spirit is distilled from <strong>the</strong> fruit, which tastes something like<br />
Kirschwasser.<br />
DISTRIBUTION AND REMARKABLE TREES IN ENGLAND<br />
Pyrus torminalis does not occur as a wild tree, and is rarely planted in Ireland,<br />
Scotland, or <strong>the</strong> North <strong>of</strong> England. Its range is from Anglesea and Nottingham<br />
southwards. It is known as <strong>the</strong> service or griping service tree; and in Kent and<br />
Pyrus 153<br />
Sussex <strong>the</strong> fruit is called chequers. It is found in woods, copses, and hedgerows,<br />
usually on loam or clay, but does not seem to grow on sandy soils. It attains its<br />
<strong>great</strong>est size in <strong>the</strong> Midland counties, where it reaches a height <strong>of</strong> from 50 to 70<br />
feet. It never seems to be gregarious, and though it reproduces itself by seed or<br />
suckers, yet being usually looked on as underwood and not allowed to grow up to<br />
its full size, does not attract notice, and is unknown except to <strong>the</strong> most observant<br />
woodmen, even in districts where it occurs. In <strong>the</strong> vale <strong>of</strong> Gloucester, on <strong>the</strong> Earl<br />
<strong>of</strong> Ducie's property, <strong>the</strong>re are probably thirty or forty <strong>trees</strong> <strong>of</strong> it scattered over a<br />
considerable area. The tallest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se, though not <strong>the</strong> thickest, is in Daniel's<br />
Wood, and is figured (Plate 47). This tree was 62 feet by 5 feet i inch in 1904,<br />
and is still growing vigorously among o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>trees</strong> and underwood. Not far <strong>of</strong>f is<br />
ano<strong>the</strong>r which may grow to as fine a tree.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> Cotswold Hills <strong>the</strong> tree is very rare. I only know a single decaying<br />
specimen <strong>of</strong> moderate size in Chedworth Wood, close to <strong>the</strong> road leading from<br />
Withington to Chedworth Downs.<br />
On Ashampstead Common, in Berks, I found one about 65 feet high and 8 feet<br />
in girth, crowded among o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>trees</strong>, which had produced a few suckers. At<br />
Rickmansworth Park, Herts, are two fine <strong>trees</strong> growing toge<strong>the</strong>r by a pond,<br />
which are probably planted (Plate 48), and which Henry measured in 1904, when<br />
<strong>the</strong>y were 65 feet by 8 feet 3 inches, and 63 feet by 9 feet i inch respectively. The<br />
largest specimen known to me is at Walcot, Shropshire, growing on a bank in good<br />
soil with a wych elm crowding it on one side, but probably planted. It measures<br />
as nearly as I could estimate about 80 feet high, and is no less than 8 feet 9 inches<br />
in girth.<br />
At Cobham Hall, Kent, a tree planted beside a pond measured 55 feet high by<br />
4^ feet in 1906.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> woods in Worcestershire, as I am informed by Mr. Woodward, it is not<br />
uncommon, but is not looked upon as <strong>of</strong> any value. There is a tree at Arley<br />
5 feet i inch in girth. In Wych wood Forest, Oxon, now nearly all destroyed, I am<br />
informed by Mr. R. Claridge Druce, <strong>of</strong> Oxford, <strong>the</strong> tree was formerly common<br />
enough for its fruit to be collected and sold in Witney market under <strong>the</strong> name<br />
<strong>of</strong> service berries.<br />
In Cornbury Park, and in <strong>the</strong> remains <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> forest outside it, <strong>the</strong>re are at least<br />
six good-sized <strong>trees</strong> surviving. Of <strong>the</strong>se <strong>the</strong> largest, just outside <strong>the</strong> park wall on <strong>the</strong><br />
south side, is 65 to 70 feet high by 6 feet 6 inches in girth, a well-shaped, vigorous<br />
tree, which on i6th October 1905 was covered with unripe fruit. Ano<strong>the</strong>r, also<br />
outside <strong>the</strong> park, is about 50 feet by 6 feet 10 inches, with a fine clean bole 12 to 14<br />
feet long. I saw no suckers or seedlings near <strong>the</strong>se <strong>trees</strong>.<br />
In <strong>the</strong> woods and coppices north and north-east <strong>of</strong> London, and in Herts, <strong>the</strong><br />
tree is not unfrequent on clay soil, and Pryor * gives several localities for it.<br />
In Epping Forest, Mr. E. N. Buxton tells me that he does not know <strong>of</strong> more<br />
than thirty <strong>trees</strong> on an area <strong>of</strong> 3000 acres, growing on heavy gravelly clay. The<br />
largest in his grounds is 40 to 50 feet high.<br />
> Flora <strong>of</strong> Hertfordshire, 1 54(1887).