116 



tainly, under the present systematic neg-« 

 lectvit is unreasonable to expect to find 

 an Oak, of considerable age, perfectly 

 sound ; indeed we rarely see one tlmtap- 

 .pears so. Where something of this kind 

 is discovered, more will with good reason 

 be apprehended ; and even where nothing 

 of the kind appears, still such a subject 

 cannot escape suspicion. As a tree in- 

 creases in thickness, holes, which have 

 long admitted wet, may grow over ; and 

 the same means often swell the stem, so 

 far, that protuberances, once considera- 

 ble, may partially or wholly disappear. 

 — We cannot often determine the extent 

 of rottenness, in part apparent, much less 

 that which may be concealed under such 

 protuberances. 



The adage says, " an old oak tree is like 

 *' a merchant ; you never know his real 

 '' worth till he be dead f intimating, that 

 no one can discover with certainty, whether 

 it be sound or. otherwise, till taken down 

 3 



