THE OAK. 331 



high. It attains a great age, even up to 1,000 years. Oak 

 reaches a large diameter. In vohmie increment it stands 

 somewhat below beech. 



The shape of the sessile oak differs somewhat from that of 

 the pedunculate species ; its branches tend more upwards, 

 and are less gnarled and knee bent. Its height growth is 

 slightl}' slower. 



'J. RcprodKctirc Poircr. 



Oak commences producing full masts at an age of about 70 

 years ; they occur ever}^ three to six years, and are heavy. 

 On the whole, the power of reproduction by seed is good. 



The reproduction by shoots is excellent ; the shoots spring 

 not only from the stool, but also from the trunk. Stools 

 retain the power of reproduction for a very long time. 



/'. (Jhdriiclpr (dill ( 'miiposifion of WooiIh. 



Oak is grown in pure woods, and in mixture with other 

 species. Owing to the decided light requirement of the oak 

 and its tendency to form, a spreading crown it opens out at a 

 comparatively early age, generally between the 40th and 60th 

 years, when raised in crowded woods ; from that time onwards 

 it cannot afford sufficient shelter to the soil, which is liable to 

 deteriorate during the long period required to produce large 

 sized timber trees. Hence, oak woods should be underplanted 

 when the process of opening out has set in, or the tree must 

 be mixed with species capable of preserving the fertility of the 

 soil. Amongst these, beech is best, then come hornbeam and 

 silver-fir ; spruce is less suitable, but more so than was 

 formerly believed ; Weymouth pine has also been used. 



Oak does splendidly in mixture with beech, attaining a 

 great height and a clear bole of considerable length. In some 

 cases the oak holds its own against the beech, but in the 

 majority of cases it is liable to be outgrown ; in the latter ease 

 the oak must be protected against the beech by lopping the 

 latter, or placed in groups, or given a start of the beech, by 



s. Y 



