( '73 ) 



This early fpring however of the Cadenham 

 oak is of very mort duration. The buds, 

 after unfolding themfelves, make no farther 

 progrefs ; but immediately fhrink from the 

 feafon, and die. The tree continues torpid, 

 like other deciduous trees, during the re- 

 mainder of the winter, and vegetates again 

 in the fpring, at the ufual feafon. I have 

 feen it, in full leaf, in the middle of fummer, 

 when it appeared both in it's form, and foliage, 

 exactly like other oaks. 



I have been informed, that another tree 

 with the fame property of early germination, 



leaves at this unfeafonable time of the year, and that the caufe 

 of it well deferves the philofophical attention of the botanift. 

 In fome years there is no doubt but that this oak may (hew 

 it's ffji leaves on the Chriftmas morning, as probably as on 

 a few days before; and this perhaps was the cafe in the laft 

 year, when a gentleman of this neighbourhood, a nice and 

 critical obferver, ftriftly examined the branches, not only 

 on the Chriftmas morn, but alfo on the day prior to it. On 

 the firft day not a leaf was to be found, but on the following 

 every branch had it's complement, tho they were then but 

 juft (hooting from the buds, none of them being more than 

 a quarter of an inch long. The latter part of the ftory may 

 eafily be credited, that no leaves are to be feen on it after 

 Chriftmas-day, as large parties yearly aflemble about the oak 

 on that morning, and regularly ftrip every appearance of a 

 leaf from it. 



has 



