CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



older. It is the opinion of Decandolle, that, of 

 all European trees, the yew is that which attains 

 the greatest age. The following are some of the 

 more remarkable British specimens to which the 

 attention of the curious has been directed. Those 

 of the ancient Abbey of Fountains, near Ripon 

 in Yorkshire, were well known as early as 

 1155. Pennant says, that in 1770 they were 1214 

 lines in diameter, and consequently, according to 

 Decandolle's method of computation, were more 

 than twelve centuries old. Those of the church- 

 yard of Crowhurstin Surrey, on Evelyn's authority, 

 were 1287 lines in diameter. There are two re- 

 maikable yews still in the same cemetery, and if 

 they are the same that Evelyn refers to, they must 

 be fourteen centuries and a half old. The yew- 

 tree at Fortingal in Perthshire, mentioned by 

 Pennant, in 1770, and part of which still exists 

 (1873), had a diameter of 2588 lines, and con- 

 sequently we must reckon it at from twenty-six to 

 twenty-seven centuries old. The yew of Bra- 

 bourne churchyard in Kent is said to have attained 

 the age of 3000 years ; that at Hedsor in Bucks, 

 however, surpasses all others in magnitude and 

 antiquity; measuring above twenty-seven feet in 

 diameter ; thus indicating the enormous age of 

 3240 years ! 



2. Hard-wooded Trees. 



In this class are included a large number of 

 trees with which every one is familiar. The list 

 embraces the oak, ash, elm, beech, chestnut, 

 walnut, common sycamore, mountain-ash, horn- 

 beam, false-acacia, birch, wild-cherry, laburnum, 

 holly, box, and hawthorn. The following are the 

 principal : 



The Oak (Quercus) is the most valuable of all 

 the timber-trees grown in Britain, not only because 

 it is a hardy native, but for the many important 

 purposes to which its durable timber, its astringent 

 bark, and even its nutritious fruit, are applicable ; 

 and, moreover, for the delight which it gives to 

 the eye in sylvan landscapes, the oak being the 

 most picturesque tree of the forest when it has 

 arrived at its mature age and form, and is still 

 clad with foliage. 



There are two species in our woods, natural or 

 planted namely, the Q. robur, whose acorns 

 grow singly and with long stalks ; and the Q. 

 sessiliflora, whose fruit grows in clusters, with 

 short acorn stalks. The former is said to be the 

 old Druidical British or naval oak, though the 

 latter is more frequently met with, especially in 

 woods which have been planted by the hand of 

 man. Besides these two common sorts, there 

 are many other species and varieties, which are 

 exotics namely, the willow-leaved, the evergreen, 

 ash-leaved, holly-leaved, chestnut-leaved, scarlet, 

 white, Italian, durmast, Luccombe, the Turkey, &c. 



All the species are readily raised from their 

 acorns. The young plants are transplanted twice 

 or thrice in the nursery ; and when four or five 

 years from the acorn, may go to their final 

 stations. Any kind of clayey loam is suitable 

 for the oak ; but a good gravelly loam, upon a 

 subsoil of blue ferruginous clay, produces the 

 finest timber in the shortest time. ' The largest 

 oaks I have ev.er seen,' says a writer, ' grew upon 

 a dry sandy loam, with a free exposure to air ; 

 however, although the oak may attain its greatest 

 dimensions under such circumstances as these, 



598 



we find it growing to the size of useful timber 

 wherever it has the advantage of a soil with a dry 

 bottom, and not too much exposed to storms as,. 



for instance, upon the top of a bare hill. The oak 

 will not thrive or live long in a damp mossy soil.' 



England, as well as Scotland, at one period 

 possessed many noble and remarkable oak-trees,, 

 the remains of which are in some instances still 

 to be seen, while in others they are only re- 

 membered in tradition. 



The Ash (Fraxinus excelsior} is also a very 

 valuable hard-wood tree, its timber being useful 

 for many rural purposes, and particularly for 

 implements and machines. The common ash, 

 being prolific in ripening seed, is dispersed pretty 

 generally over the face of the British Isles. The 

 circumstances favourable to the healthy develop- 

 ment of the ash are, as regards soil, a good strong 

 loam, rather rich than otherwise, and rather moist 

 than dry for it does not disagree with a little 

 moisture, provided that this moisture has free and 

 ready escape from the roots. Being fond of shel- 

 ter, it grows well in a hollow or glen, or in the 

 interior of a large plantation. 



An ash-tree is in its prime when, by free and 

 vigorous growth, it has attained a diameter of 

 about twenty inches ; for though on rich gravelly 

 loam it will continue to increase until it is four or 

 five feet in diameter, it has probably begun to rot 

 at the core long before it has arrived at that vast 

 bulk. Therefore, in order to raise ash-timber of 

 the most valuable description, it is necessary to 

 sow or plant a piece of land of the above character 

 thickly, placing the trees about two feet apart. 

 These will rise rapidly ; and as soon as they 

 appear to be choking each other, one half of the 

 poles may be drawn, and the rest allowed ta 

 stand till they arrive at a marketable size, which 

 is when they are from eight to twelve inches in 

 diameter, and from forty to sixty feet high. When 

 ground-ash is of these dimensions, it is suitable 

 for every mechanical purpose where flexibility and 

 extreme toughness are required. From its up- 

 right habit of growth, the ash forms one of our 

 best forest-trees ; and what is especially deserving 

 of notice, its timber is better that is, more 

 tough, elastic, and durable the more rapidly it is 

 grown. 



