8 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



when felled, contained eight loads of timber; and, being too bulky 

 for a carriage, was sawn off at seven feet above the butt, where it 

 measured near eight feet in the diameter. This elm I mention to 

 show to what a bulk planted elms may attain ; as this tree must 

 certain-ly have been such from its situation. 



In the centre of the village, and near the church, is a square 

 piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly called " The 

 Plestor." In the midst of this spot stood, in old times, a vast 

 oak, with a short squat body, and huge horizontal arms extending 

 almost to the extremity of the area. This venerable tree, sur- 

 rounded with stone steps, and seats above them, was the delight 

 of old and young, and a place of much resort in summer evenings ; 

 where the former sat in grave debate, while the latter frolicked 

 and danced before them. Long might it have stood, had not the 

 amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, to the infinite 

 regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, who bestowed several 

 pounds in setting it in its place again : but all his care could not 

 avail ; the tree sprouted for a time, then withered and died. This 

 oak I mention to show to what a bulk planted oaks also may 

 arrive : and planted this tree must certainly have been, as will 

 appear from what will be said farther concerning this area, when 

 we enter on the antiquities of Selborne. 



On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called Losel's, 

 of a few acres, that was lately furnished with a set of oaks of a 

 peculiar growth and great value ; they were tall and taper like 

 firs, but standing near together had very small heads, only a little 

 brush without any large limbs. About twenty years ago the bridge 

 at the Toy, near Hampton Court, being much decayed, some 

 trees were wanted for the repairs that were fifty feet long without 

 bough, and would measure twelve inches diameter at the little 

 end. Twenty such trees did a purveyor find in this little wood, 

 with this advantage, that many of them answered the description 

 at sixty feet. These trees were sold for twenty pounds apiece. 



In the centre of this grove there stood an oak, which, though 

 shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large excrescence 

 about the middle of the stem. On this a pair of ravens had fixed 

 their residence for such a series of years, that the oak was dis- 



