ftood. It is a tall, flraight plant of no great 

 age, and apparently vigorous ; except that it's 

 top has been injured; from which feveral 

 branches iffue in the form of pollard moots. It 

 was intirely bare of leaves, as far as I could 

 difcern, when I faw it; and undiftinguimable 

 from the other oaks in it's neighbourhood; 

 except that it's bark feemed rather fmoother ; 

 occafioned, I apprehended, only by frequent 

 climbing. 



Having had the account of it's early budding 

 confirmed on the fpot, I engaged one Michael 

 Lawrence, who kept the white hart, a fmall 

 ale-houfe in the neighbourhood, to fend me 

 fome of the leaves to Vicar's hill, as foon 

 as they mould appear. The man, who had 

 not the leaft doubt about the matter, kept 

 his word; and fent me feveral twigs, on the 

 morning of the 5th of January, 1782; a few 

 hours after they had been gathered. The 

 leaves were fairly expanded ; and about an 

 inch in length. From fome of the buds two 

 leaves had unfheathed themfelves ; but in 

 general only one. 



Through what power in nature this ftrange, 

 premature vegetation is occafioned, I believe 



no 



