OAK TREE IN A POT. 7$ 



Ciipidiferce in the Natural order of plants. The hun- 

 dred species or so known in this country branch into 

 an endless number of varieties, most of which are 

 trees of large size, while certain varieties only attain 

 medium dimensions, and others are quite of a dwarf 

 kind, some being evergreen, others sub-evergreen, but 

 mostly being of the deciduous order. However much 

 the various kinds differ in outward appearance they 

 are all alike in producing the well-known acorn, which 

 is remarkable for its uniformity of size and shape 

 upon every kind of oak tree. London has recorded 

 that upon one occasion he saw a plant of Quercus 

 lanata, a native of Nepaul, growing in a pot, which 

 was three or four years old only, bearing acorns ; but 

 several kinds do not have fruit till they attain the age 

 of twenty years. 



The timber of the oak is very valuable, but the 

 common deciduous kind of oak, as well, makes excellent 

 coppice, springing up freely after it has been cut down. 

 The most widely known oak is the variety Q. robur. 

 which is indigenous to this country and to most 

 countries of Europe. There are two distinct varieties, 

 which some botanists rank as species, Q. r.pedimcu- 

 lata y which yields acorns on fruit stalks, and Q. r. 

 sessiliflom, in the case of the latter the acorns being 

 sessile, yielding flowers and acorns close to the branches 

 without fruit-stalks. The best timber is produced 

 from the first named, that from the latter resembling 

 the Spanish chestnut more in its characteristics. The 

 tree, too, is more apt to retain its withered leaves on 

 its branches during the winter, and its greatest recom- 

 mendation is, that it grows more freely in indifferent 

 soils and situations when young. 



