390 



CHIPS AND SLIPS. 



[March, 



ordinary observer will scarcely notice 

 the damage. No mischief was done 

 by the storm of January 26th ; the 

 branches which were hung in chains are 

 still in their places, and there is no 

 doubt the Major is still the finest tree in 

 this neighbourhood, and may still be 

 called the ' King of Sherwood Forest.' 

 The ' Oak' at HEADiNGLEr. — Many 

 of our readers will learn with regret 

 that a landmark well known in Leeds 

 and the district has been seriously 

 damaged by the recent gale. This is 

 the ancient Oak tree which stands in 

 the garden of Mr. Moat at Headingley, 

 near the inn to which it has given its 

 name. The tree is supposed to have 

 been planted eleven ' hundred years 

 ago. Whether that be so or not, its 

 immense girth and venerable aspect 

 permit no doubt to be entertained of 

 its great age. Its life has, of course, 

 long since departed ; few of the old 

 inhabitants of the district can recollect 

 its showing any sign of vitality ; 

 indeed, it must have been decaying for 

 centuries. For many years its vast 

 trunk has been a mere shell — so hollow 

 that it has served the purpose of an 

 antique summer-seat in the garden, 

 and the recess so capacious that two 



persons may sit comfortably inl'it. 

 With the ivy tenderly embracing it, as 

 if aware of its feeble condition and 

 imparting to it some semblance of life, 

 it has preserved until now a pictu- 

 resque appearance. Tradition says that 

 the tree in its prime was a well-known 

 trysting-place ; that under its wide- 

 spreading branches Knights Templar 

 were wont to hold their councils ; and 

 that thither the rude cloth weavers of 

 the district brought their fabrics for 

 sale before Leeds was more than a 

 mere hamlet. For some time past it 

 has been apparent that the decay was 

 so far advanced that the tree could 

 not stand much longer. One of the 

 violent squalls of January 23rd 

 was at length too much for it. 

 Suddenly a large portion of the upper 

 part of the trunk, with the remains of 

 two or three of its boughs and a mass 

 of ivy, came crashing down into the 

 garden ; one of Mr. Moat's daughters, 

 who was passing at the moment, 

 narrowly escaping injury by the fall. 

 Fortunately the lower portion of the 

 trunk, with the summer-seat, still 

 stmds as an interesting relic of the 

 past. — Leeds Mercury. 



Vol. VII., May to October, isss, op 



f 



I \^ was completed with the October Number, and is on sale, bound in 



handsome light green cloth gilt, beautifully illustrated, price 7/6. 



Vols. 111. to VI. of ' JOURNAL OF FORESTRY' (yearly volumes) are still on sale at 15i. 

 tach, bound in green cloth gilt. Vols. I. and II, are out of print, 



VERY HANDSOME BINDING CASES for Vol. VII. 



are on sale at the Publishing Office, at Is. 6d., or, Is. 9d. carriage free 



HoiicE TO Contributors and Correspondents. 



It is absolutely essential that all MSS. for insertion should reach the Editor not 

 later than the 15th of each month, and at an earlier period of the month lohen- 

 ever possible. Books for review must also be sent before the middle of the month. 

 Letters for the Editor's Box should be as short as possible. The place for 

 long contributions is in the body of the magazine. It is a great assistance, both to 

 editor and printers, for MSS, to be well and legibly written, and on one side only of 

 the paper. 



*»* Urgent commimications for the Editor should be addressed (personally to him) 

 Underwood, Kew Gardens. 



