( 7 ) 



Let a tree of flourifhing growth be increafed in magnitude, in the 

 fpace of a year, one fourth part of an inch, in fuch a fpace v/ill be 

 produced one circle of the large vefl'els ; another tree growing in 

 a colder climate fhall require eight or ten years growth to increafe in 

 the fame degree : in this laft tree, within the fourth of an inch fpace 

 will be formed eight or ten circles of large veflels, the neceiTary 

 conclufion is, that Oak Timber growing in cold climates mufl be foft 

 and peri (liable, and it mult be acknowledged that Oak timber grow- 

 ing in this country of Holland, is fuperior in quality to that produced 

 in more Northern latitudes : again, that the Oak Timber of Bra- 

 bant and Flanders, is fuperior to ours, and laftly, that the French 

 and Eno^lifli Oaks are the mofl excellent of all. 



One thing mull however be confidered, which is, that the very 

 largefl; Oaks are not always I'o valuable as trees of a more moderate 

 fize, that is to fay, if they were of good growtli, and are free from 

 decay; for though large trees, in the firfi: thirty, forty, or fifty 

 3'ears may gi-ow very faft, and produce excellent timber, yet when 

 they come to the age of an hundred, or an hundred and twenty 

 years, the circles of wood added every year, become very narrow, 

 and the thicknefs increafes flowly, fo tliat the large veflels in the 

 wood approadi near together, and confequently the exterior or out- 

 ward parts of fuch large timber become very foft, in comparifon 

 with the inner part of it. 



It is the general opinion in this Country that timber is much 

 more folid or durable when felled in winter than in I'lnnmcr. But 

 I think that if we exainine this opinion, we fliall find it to be erro- 

 neous. 



It is true, that if timber be felled in the fummer time, the bark 

 can much more cafily be feparated from it tiian in the winter ; for 

 tlie wood newly formed each year always adheres to the bark, and 

 the bark is every year propelled or driven outwards from the lafi- 



