CHAP. cv. Coryla'ce^. que'rcus. 1799 



however, the oak, if planted in open situations, and if the stem be divested of 

 its side shoots only to a moderate height, will produce a sufficient number of 

 crooked arms and branches for every purpose in naval architecture. It is 

 almost unnecessary to observe, that, when the object is ship-timber, and timber 

 fit for making furniture, the acorns and plants of Q. pedunculata should be 

 chosen, in preference to those of Q. sessiliflora. 



Eligibilifi/ of the Oak for platttmg tmth a View to Profit, as compared with 

 other Trees. Tlie slow growth of the oak is by many alleged as a reason 

 why plantations of it will prove less profitable than those of other trees. In 

 answer to this it may be stated, 1st, that, as the oak is almost in every case 

 planted among nurse trees, which are not cut down till they are of some value 

 as poles or timber, there can hardly be said to be such a thing as a young oak 

 plantation ; and, 2dly, that though the oak, in ordinary circumstances, is of a 

 slow growth while young, yet, after the trunk has attained a diameter of 6 in. 

 or 8 in., the oak grows as fast as almost any other hard-wooded tree, and cer- 

 tainly faster than some ; such as the beech and the hornbeam. The value of 

 the timber of the oak, even when of small size, the value of the bark, and, as 

 Matthew observes, the slight comparative injury of its shade to coppice-wood, 

 hedge-plants, grass, corn, or other crops, "should give a preference to this tree 

 for planting, wherever the climate and soil are suitable, over every other kind, 

 •with the exception of the larch and willow, which, in particular soils, will pay 

 better." 



For Hedgerow Tiviber, it is agreed by most writers that the oak is superior 

 to all other trees. It produces the most valuable timber and bark in that 

 situation, and does less injury to the hedge, and to the herbage or corn be- 

 neath it, than any other species, unless, perhaps, as Matthew observes, the 

 apple and the pear be excepted ; because the horizontal roots do not run 

 near the surface, and the buds come later into leaf than those of any other 

 British tree. The general form, and the great variety of outline, of the 

 oak, as well as its colour, both in spring and autumn, also harmonise in a 

 superior manner with the general scenery of an enclosed country. To be 

 convinced of this, we have only to reflect on those parts of the country 

 where larches, pines, and Lombardy and other poplars prevail in hedgerows, 

 in which they are as bad in an agricultural, as they are in a picturesque, point 

 of view. " The disadvantages," Matthew observes, " attending the planting of 

 hedgerows with oaks are, that the removal of the oak, when young, is not in 

 general so successful as that of other trees, especially in this exposed dry si- 

 tuation ; also, that the progress of the plant, for a number of years, is but slow, 

 and that it is thus for a longer time liable to injury from cattle. Fair success 

 may, however, be commanded by previously preparing the roots, should the 

 plants be of good size ; transplanting them when the ground is neither too 

 moist nor too dry ; and, in autumn, as soon as the leaves have dropped or 

 become brown, particularly in dry ground ; performing the operation with the 

 utmost care, so as not to fracture the roots, and to retain a considerable ball ; 

 opening pits of considerable size for their reception, much deeper than the 

 roots ; and should a little water lurk in the bottom of the pit, it will be highly 

 beneficial, provided none stagnate so high as the roots ; firming the earth well 

 around the roots, after it is carefully shaken in among the fibres ; and, espe- 

 cially, keeping the surface of the ground, within 4 ft. of the plant, friable and 

 free from weeds, by repeated hoeings during the first two or three summers. 

 Of course, if the plant is suffered to waver with the wind, or to be rubbed and 

 bruised by cattle, or by the appendages of the plough, it is folly to expect 

 success. On this account, stout plants, from 8 ft. to 12 ft. high, the branches 

 of which are more out of the way of injury, may, in sheltered situations, under 

 careful management, be of the most proper size. Much also depends on pro- 

 curing strong plants from exposed situations. We have," continues Matthew, 

 " experienced better success with hardy plants from the exposed side of a hill, 

 having unfibred carrot roots, much injured by removal, than with others from 

 a sheltered morass, having the roots most numerously fibred, and well extri- 



