( 26 ) 



is rather undiftinguifhing, during its early 

 growth, while it's horizontal fibres ftraggle 

 about the furface of the earth ; yet when its 

 tap-root begins to enter the depths of the 

 foil, perhaps no tree is nicer in its difcrimi- 

 nations. If it's conftitution be not fuited here, 

 it may multiply its progeny indeed, and pro- 

 duce a thriving copfe ; but the puny race 

 will never rife to lordly dignity in the foreft, 

 nor furnifh navies to command the ocean *. 



The particular, and moft valued qualities 

 of the oak, are bardinefs and toughnefs. Shake- 

 fpear ufes two epithets to exprefs thefe qualities, 

 which are perhaps flronger than any we can 

 find. 



Thou rather with thy {harp, and fulph'rous bolt 

 Split'fl the univedgeable, and gnarled oak, 

 Than the foft myrtle 



* How quickly the oak vegetates in a foil it likes, may be feen 

 from the following inftance. An acorn was fown at Beckett, 

 the feat of Lord Barrington, on the day of his birth in 1717. In 

 November 1790, it contained 95 feet of timber, which, at 23. per 

 foot, would fell for 9!. IDS. the top was valued at about il. 158, 

 The girt, at 5 feet from the ground, was about half an inch more 

 than 8 feet. The increafe of the girt, in the two laft years, was ^ 

 inches and an half. It grows in rich land, worth jl. $s. an acre. 



Many 



