Quercus l ^S 



supposed the tree from which they were propagated, to have been, as Holwell states, 1 

 a very vigorous seedling of the Turkey oak which, in the climate of south Devon and 

 Cornwall, where alone this form can be seen at its best, kept its leaves in winter ; and 

 I have raised from acorns of the large Turkey oak, growing near the pond at Kew, 

 two seedlings which up to the age of five years have this subevergreen habit. The 

 seedlings of the original Lucombe oaks, of which the two largest specimens grew near 

 the entrance of the old Exeter Nursery and are now both cut down, had a different 

 habit and much more corky bark, and with the exception of a tree near the chapel at 

 Killerton which, however, is not nearly as large, I have seen no others which could 

 compare with them. None of those propagated later ever seem to have attained the 

 size or vigour of the original Lucombe oak, and none of the seedlings which are on 

 their own roots, show any promise of rivalling the original grafted trees in height or 

 girth. There is no doubt that the original Lucombe oaks which I mention as 

 follows, are among the finest ornamental trees in Great Britain, and deserve to be 

 propagated by grafting in the same way as Lucombe did. For none of those we 

 have seen which have been sold by nurserymen in the last century as Lucombe oaks, 

 can be compared in size or vigour with the originals. 



In Cornwall the largest I have seen are at Carclew. One of these in a walk 

 leading to the gardens, was believed by Sir Charles Lemon, who formerly owned 

 Carclew, to have been an original Lucombe oak, and from his notebook, which the 

 late Colonel Tremayne showed me, I took the following measurements : 



In 1823 . . 74^ ft. by 6 ft. 1 1 in. at 4 ft. from ground. 



In 1851 . . 9 1 



In 1853 . ,, 9 8 ,, ,, 



When I saw it in 1903 it was about 100 ft. high by 13 ft. I have not seen any 

 of its acorns, which, Mr. Simmons, the gardener, told me, are rarely produced. At 

 Carclew, in the park, there are four other trees of similar appearance and grafted 

 in the same way which measure from 90 to 100 ft. by 10 to 12 ft. in girth. 



Mr. Napper states that a very fine one stands by the Lodge Gate at Trebarrick, 

 St. Austell ; and I am informed by Mr. J. P. Rogers that there are at Penrose, near 

 Helston, some large Lucombe oaks planted about 1773 and grafted on the Turkey 

 oak, which are no doubt original. 



In Devonshire the tree by the gardens at Killerton (Plate 321) in 1908 measured 

 about 100 ft. by 12 ft. 11 in. At Powderham in the deer park two trees measured in 

 1906, 92 ft. by 14 ft. 4 in. and 90 ft. by 13 ft. 4 in. At Ugbrooke Park, Devon, the 

 seat of Lord Clifford of Chudleigh, there are four fine trees in the park near the house, 

 of which the largest in 1908 measured 80 ft. by 16 ft. ; another about 80 ft. by 14 ft. 

 At Castle Hill, Devon, a tree on the lawn, which I am told by the Hon. J. W. 

 Fortescue was planted in 1770, in 1905 measured 80 ft. by 15 ft. 8 in. (Plate 320). 

 At Sharpham, near Totnes, just below the house, a rather spreading tree was 90 ft. 

 by 13 ft. 4 in. in 1907. At Kingston Lacy, Dorsetshire, there is a tree 90 ft. by 8 ft., 



1 Cf. Card. Chron. xxxii. 195, 221 (1902). The original Lucombe oak appears, however, to have been a chance hybrid 

 of Q. Cerris with Q. Suier, and not a seminal sport of the Turkey oak. 



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