3356 
boys, when in a distressed and pe- 
rilous situation, on the 22d of Ja- 
nuary last, which faéts are attested 
by eleven owners of ships resident 
in Scarborough. 
In the course of the last twelve 
months, several ships and vessels, 
which have not been included in the 
above accounts, have been driven 
en shore in bad weather, and got 
off again afterwards ; the crews have 
been saved by being taken out by 
the life-boat, whereas, if they had 
remained on board, they must have 
‘perished, the sea making a passage 
over them. * 
. 
@bservations on the Culture and 
Growth of Oak Timber, by the 
Rev. Richard Yates, F. A, S. 
from the Transactions of the So- 
eicty for the Encouragement of 
Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. 
(The Silver Medal was voted to the 
Author of this Communication. ) 
T"O expatiate upon the vast im- 
portance of increasing the 
growth of oak timber, seems unne- 
cessary. The national advantages 
resulting from this source, appear 
to be, in general, well understood ; 
and yet the cultivation and manage- 
ment of this most useful plant, has 
not hitherto obtained that degree of 
attention which it most certainly 
merits. 
Entirely to obviate, or even in 
some measure to remove or lessen, 
the obstacles that still continue to 
impede the planting of oaks, would, 
therefore, be rendering an essential 
service to the nation. ‘The desire 
of accomplishing so beneficial a pur- 
pose, has induced the judicious and 
public spirited conduétors of the 
Society of arts, to propose @ pre-. 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1803. 
mium for ‘¢ ascertaining the best 
method of raising oaks ;” in conse- 
quence of which, this paper is sub- 
mitted to their candid consideration. 
And as the statements here made are 
founded upon a sedulous and aétive 
experience of fifty years, it is pre« 
sumed the spirit and meaning of the 
society’s proposal may have been 
observed, although it has not been 
possible (in this instance), literaily 
to fulfil its terms ; at least the very 
intention of promoting and forward- 
ing the views of so. enlightened, and 
highly useful a society, may, it is 
hoped, be accepted as an apology 
for calling their attention to these 
observations. 
It forms no part of the present 
design to enter minutely into the 
various causes that continue to ope- 
rate in obstruéting the cultivation of 
the oak ; as there is one of peculiar 
magnitude, the consequences of 
which are highly detrimental and 
injurious, and which it is, therefore, 
the principal objeét of this paper te 
remove. 
An opinion is generally prevalent, 
that the oak is particularly slow in 
its growth, and requires a great 
number of years before it affords 
any advantage. This idea, too often, 
deters from planting, on account of 
the very great length of time it is 
supposed the Jand must be occu- 
pied before any return of valua- 
ble produce can be obtained from 
it, after a considerable expence 
may have been incurred in forming 
plantations. 
This opinion, I consider as en- 
tirely founded in error, and to have 
taken its rise, in a great measure, 
from the want of proper manage- 
ment, that has hitherto commonly. 
prevailed in the raising of oaks; 
and in this paper, I shall endeavour, 
strongly, 
