INTKODUCTION 5 



stood without the foregoing knowledge of structure. 

 Following what has been said concerning the normal 

 structure and life-processes of the tree, we may turn to 

 the investigation of its cultivation and the diseases 

 which attack it, concluding with a necessarily brief 

 chapter on the systematic position of the British oak 

 and its immediate allies, and some remarks on its geo- 

 graphical distribution at the present time. 



Of course, many points which will turn up in the 

 course of the exposition will have to be shortly dealt 

 with, as the object of the book is to touch things with 

 a light hand ; but it is hoped that, this notwithstanding, 

 the reader may obtain a useful glimpse into the domain 

 of modern botanical science and the problems with which 

 forest botany is concerned, and with which every properly 

 trained forester ought to be thoroughly acquainted. 



The oak, as is well known, is a slow-growing, di- 

 cotyledonous tree of peculiar spreading habit, and very 

 intolerant of shade (Plate I.). It may reach a great age 

 certainly a thousand years and still remain sound 

 and capable of putting forth leafy shoots. 



The root-system consists normally of a deep principal 

 or tap root and spreading lateral roots, which become 

 yery thick and woody and retain a remarkably strong 

 hold on the soil when the latter is a suitable deep, 

 tenacious loam with rocks in it. They are intolerant of 

 anything like stagnant water, however, and will succeed 

 better in sandy loam and more open soils than in richer 

 ones improperly drained. 



