314 



THE RELATIVE VALUE OF THE TWO SPECIES OP 



BRITISH OAKS, 



Known as Quekcus Sessilifloka asd Q. Pedunculata. 



■ The Kev. H. C. Key, who spoke in so low a tone that his remarks were 

 very indistinctly heard, said, so far as we could understand him, that the 

 Q. sessilUhra is found in much greater abundance in Lancashire and the North 

 than in the South of England, and that the great reasons for holding it to be 

 superior to the Q. pedunculata are — that it is more ornimental, that it is 

 of more rapid growth, that it produces the longest and straightest trees and 

 the greatest quantity of timber, and that its wood is the most durable. The 

 question was a very interesting one, and if it were true, as he had stated in 

 his paper, that the rate of growth of the Q. sessilitiora, relatively to the growth 

 of Q. pedunculata, is as 5 to 4, and the quantity of timber produced as 3 to 2, 

 then it became very important which of the two kinds should be selected for 

 general cultivation. 



The President having enumerated the four points taken up by Mr. Key, 

 BO as to ensure their distinct consideration, and reminding the speakers that 

 only eight minutes could be allowed each, called upon 



Mr. Lees, who said the question of the relative value of the two species 

 of oak — if they were two species — was not of so much importance now as in 

 the days when our ships were " hearts of oak," but it was still of importance 

 in reference to building purposes. The question resolved itself into this — 

 whether there' were two species of British oak at alL Many botanists maintain 

 that there is only one, Q. robur, and that Q. sessUijiora is only a variety of 

 the original robur. If that were so, all the qualities for which British oak got 

 credit must be ascribed to Q. robur. There were comparatively but few 

 Hssiliflora to be found, in proportion to Q. pedunculata, and he (Mr. L.) 

 disputed the notion of Mr. Key, that they had been cut down for their 

 excellence, as in former times the difference between them was unnoted. Mr. 

 Lees here read the following paper on the subject : — 



With regard to the supposed two kinds of British oaks, Selby, who may 

 be considered an impartial judge, thus refers to Quercus pedunculata and 

 Q. sessiliflora, considered by many botanists as two distinct species, included 

 by Linnaeus under the name of Q. robur : — 



" Our own impression, however, is that they are rather to be considered 

 varieties than species, and this supposition we think is strengthened by the 

 fact that intermediate forms, both in regard to the position of the fruit and 

 the form of the leaves, are frequently met with, and these are found to run 

 so much into each other, and sometimes to partake so equally of the characters 

 of both kinds, as to render it difficult to determine to which they show the 



