. THE OAK. 13 



curved mode of growth by the suspension of weights to 

 their heads ; and in this country also, experiments have 

 been tried in order to produce similar results ; but in 

 most cases with very doubtful success. This custom was 

 known to Virgil : 



"Continue in sjlvis magr.a vi flexa domatur 

 In burim, et curvi forrnam accipit ulmus aratri." 



Georg. I. 



The foliage of the Oak is as characteristic as any other 

 feature of the tree, whether we regard the sinuated form 

 of each individual leaf, or the aggregate tufts. The 

 principal difference between the leaves of Quercus pedun- 

 citlata (or Quercus Eobur] and Quercus sessiliflora is, that 

 in the former they have scarcely any stems, whereas the 

 leaves of the latter are decidedly stalked, and the lobes on 

 each side are more nearly opposite. Both species burst 

 their leaf and flower-buds about the same time, in April 

 01 May Quercus sessiliflora being, however, generally 

 somewhat later. At this time their pale-green tint, deli- 

 cately shaded with crimson, seems scarcely to accord with 

 the bulky and more robust character of the rest of the 

 tree ; but, as the season advances, they assume a full, 

 florid green, which they retain till very late in the year. 

 At the approach of winter they put on a rich russet-brown 

 or red hue, and light up many a landscape, which without 

 them would be cold and cheerless. Young trees do not 

 cast their leaves, even when every semblance of life has 

 departed from them, but retain them, probably as a 

 protection for the embryo buds of the succeeding year, 

 which are formed many months before they begin to 

 expand. 



The Oak is remarkable for sending out young shoots of 

 spring foliage (called Lammas shoots) late in the season, 

 when its proper leaves are fully matured ; and this is more 

 particularly the case when the latter have been injured. 

 On the 2nd of August, 1844, the exposed Oaks at Penrose 



