126 THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
ground) ; the height is now not more than 40 feet ; on the south
slope the gnarled roots are much exposed by hollowing out of the
gravel soil. It still bears a good crown of branches, and,
although past its prime, its noble proportions are impressive.
Other fine Spanish Chestnuts are a pair on either side of a more
southerly raised path ; that on the east side is 83 feet high
16 feet 9 inches in girth : that facing it on the opposite side of
the path is a handsome tree, although its crown has been injured ;
it measures 15 feet 3 inches in girth ; the deep ridges of the bark
show the strong twist often seen in the trunks of these Chestnuts.
In the autumn of 1940 the abundant fruit formed on the chestnuts
and on the adjacent old oaks proved attractive to many of our
wild red squirrels.
A group of well-grown unpollarded Hornbeams standing
about an open glade, not far from the Forest Keepers' cottages,
is so well screened by thickets of holly that they often escape
attention. The late Miller Christy, who was much interested
in Essex Hornbeams, considered that these trees in Bush Wood
were some of the finest in the county ; the largest is 75 to 80 feet
high, and 8 feet 5 inches in girth : the spread of the boughs on
the north side is 48 feet across. The Grey Poplar (Populus
canescens) is well represented in this section, and the long lines
of suckers springing from the roots help to establish fresh trees.
A beautiful specimen of a form of the White Beam, Pyrus Aria,
stands half hidden by other trees near the great Spanish Chestnut.
It is probably var. latifolia ; the leaves vary in the depth of
lobing and are grey felted beneath ; the abundant clusters of
ripe fruit are rich yellow and turn red where they are exposed
to strong light. It is about 18 feet high.
Many good Oaks are to be seen here, scattered amongst the
native Hollies. A row of Horse Chestnuts on the south side
of Bush road was evidently planted long ago to complete the
general design.
Between the raised paths are some old ponds, gradually
becoming dry : one of them still shows on its moist floor a
growth of the small Bur-reed, Sparganium simplex, a plant no
longer abundant in the Forest district ; near it are small plants
of Water Purslane, Peplis Portula, Bidens cernua and Polygonum
amphibium, survivals from wetter conditions. Some of the