2 THE OAK. 



as of the grandeur and majefly ofits figure. 

 It arrives at a bulk equal, if not fuperior, 

 to that of any other tree of the foreft ; and 

 by the vaft arms which it throws out on 

 every fide, it forms a mafs which fills the 

 eye of the fpeclator, and imprefles him with 

 gigantic ideas. Its rugged bark and jagged 

 deep-green leaves add to its character of 

 ruftic and mafculine ftrength. 



The oak moft delights in a rich ftrong 

 foil, in which it ftrikes its roots to a vaft 

 depth. It loves hilly rather than boggy 

 ground, and thrives belt in large planta- 

 tions. It is injured by cropping ; whence 

 may be eftimatcd the mifchief annually done 

 to this noble tree by the cuftom of cutting 

 large branches for the celebration of the 

 2 pth of May. It forms the largeft head, 

 and fpreads in the moft pic~turefque figure, 

 when growing fingly, as in parks and orna- 

 mental grounds ; but it rifes with a tall and 



ftraight 



treated of, according to the Linnaean fyflem ; 



cific character relates to the particular fpecies or kind 



which is the fubjecl of the article. 



