The driest year during this period was 1864, and the wettest, 1872, when the respective rainfall was 16:38 inches, and 35'90 inches.

The average given in the last ten years corresponds very exactly with the observations taken at Tottenham. by the late Luke Howard, during a period of thirty-three years, from 1797 to 1830, giving an average of 25'13 inches, that at Old-park being an average of 25·18 inches. The great discrepancy between these results and those observed by Mr. Heath, arises from the rain-gauge at the Vicarage being placed at the top of the house, whilst those at Old-park and at Tottenham were on the ground. It is a well-known and curious fact that the elevation of

a gauge will diminish the amount of rain* collected, and the currents of air on a roof materially affect the accuracy of the register.

The mean temperature at Old-park for ten years, from 1863 to 1872, was,

The highest temperature during this period being 93°

July 21st, and July 22nd, 1868, and the lowest, 2° Jan. 3rd, 1867.

* Dr. Dalton found that the rain in a gauge fifty yards above the ground was in summer only two-thirds, and in winter only one-half of that in a gauge on the surface.

TREES

Worthy of record for their antiquity, magnitude, or beauty. (BY J. W. F.)

"Much can they praise the trees so straight and hy,
The sapling pine, the cedar proud and talle,
The vine-propp elme,-the poplar, never dry;
The builder oake, sole king of forests all;
The eugh, obedient to the bender's will,
The birch for shafts, the sallow for the mill;
The warlike beech; the ash for nothing ill.
The Faerie Queene, Canto I.

There being many "old patrician trees" in the parish of Enfield which are, perhaps, without their equals in the county, a notice of them may be interesting for the purpose of future comparison, or as a record of such as may soon disappear. The measurements have all been made personally by the writer, and are in each case taken where they most fairly represent the size of the tree.

ACACIA.-Robinia Pseud-acacia.

There are two magnificent specimens at the Rectory, and a third at Bohun Lodge, possibly the oldest in the country. No trees of such size are recorded by Loudon. The respective measurements are at 3 feet from ground. Girth, 16-ft. 8-in., spread of branches, 69-ft.; girth, 14-ft. 2-in., spread, 66-ft. At ground, 18-ft. 4-in.; at three feet, 13-ft. 11-in. Height, 70-ft.

The acacia was one of the first North American trees introduced into Europe. The oldest, which is in the Jardin des Plantes, was planted in 1635, and destroyed in the late revolution. It was raised from seed sent over to Jean Robin, the professor of botany, from whom the tree takes its generic name. It was introduced into England in 1640.

ASH.-Fraxinus Excelsior.

A grand old shell in the park at Forty Hall may well have been a sturdy tree when Elizabeth lived here at Elsynge Hall. It still supports a few vigorous branches. Measurement at ground, girth, 26-ft. 10-in. At 3 feet, 18-ft.

Another tree in the wood measures at 5-ft., 11-ft. 6-in., and has a clean stem to the first branch of more than 40-ft.; the height close on 100-ft.

"The leaves of this tree," says Gerard, " are of such virtue against serpents as that they dare not so much as touch the morning and evening shadowes of the tree, but shun them afar off." "We write," says he, "upon experience."

BEECH.-Fagus Sylvatica.

Many noble beeches still remain in Trent Park, the lingering relics of the ancient Chase of Enfield. The finest specimens are not far from Camletmoat, to the right and left of the drive, soon after entering

by the lodge on the Camlet way. The following are particularly worthy of notice. To the right of drive, a tree with seat round it-At 1-ft. 6-in., girth 20-ft. 9-in.; at 4-ft., 15-ft. 3-in.; at 14-ft., 12-ft. 3-in. Height, 102-ft. The stem is estimated to contain 211-ft. of timber.

To the left of drive a magnificent tree-At 1-ft. 6-in., girth, 19-ft. 8-in.; at 4-ft., 15-ft. 10-in. Height, 98-ft. The stem is estimated to contain 168-ft. of timber, and the top 180-ft.

This tree at 12-ft. from the ground divides into five mighty stems, the branches from which weep to the ground on every side, and cover an area of 107-ft. diameter.

Many splendid beeches in this park have of late years. been, unhappily, felled. Especially worthy of record was one near the Camlet-road, which rose for 40-ft. without a branch, and with a bole as large as the foregoing.

COPPER BEECH.-Fagus Purpurea.

There are three copper beeches in the grounds at Capel House, which, from their great size, must have been among the earliest planted in this country, and may vie with those at Enville and Sion as the largest and loftiest in England. 1.—At 3-ft., girth 8-ft. 1-in.; spread of branches, 81-ft. 2.-At ground, 20-ft.; at 3-ft., 9-ft. 10-in. 3.-At 3-ft., 10-ft. 8-in.

The original tree from which all the others in Europe are derived was discovered in a wood in Germany, in the middle of the last century.