OF SELBORNE. 9 



the delight of old and young, and a place of much 

 resort in summer evenings ; where the former sat in 

 grave debate, while the latter frolicked and danced 

 before them. Long might it have stood, had not the 

 amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, to the 

 infinite regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, who 

 bestowed several pounds in setting it in its place again: 

 but all his care could not avail ; the tree sprouted for a 

 time, then withered and died. This oak'l mention to 

 show to what a bulk planted oaks also may arrive : and 

 planted this tree must certainly have been, as will 

 appear from what will be said further concerning this 

 area when we enter on the antiquities of Selborne 2 . 



On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood 

 called Losel's, of a few acres, that was lately furnished 

 with a set of oaks of a peculiar growth and great 

 value ; they were tall and taper like firs, but, standing 

 near together, had very small heads, only a little brush 

 without any large limbs 3 . About twenty years ago 



2 The reference in the text to another portion of the volume for other 

 particulars respecting this oak would almost render any explanation in 

 this place unnecessary. It may, however, be shortly stated that The 

 Plestor measures about forty-four yards by thirty-six, and that the oak, 

 whose branches nearly overshadowed this large space, is conjectured by 

 Gilbert White to have been, at the time when it was blown down, four 

 hundred and thirty-two years old. E. T. B. 



3 Mr. White only hints in this place at the interesting effects of shelter 

 and exposure on the growth of trees. In the interior of forests and 

 crowded plantations, the wind can exert a far less mechanical effect on 

 individual trees than in exposed situations ; and, therefore, while they 

 are positively determined to push upwards to the light, they are nega- 

 tively permitted to do so by the removal of any necessity to thicken their 

 trunks for the sake of greater strength, and to contract the height of 

 them in order to afford the blast a shorter lever against the roots. On 

 the other hand, trees in an open situation are freely exposed to the 

 wind, and the large expansion of their branches gives every advantage 

 to the violence of the storm. Nature accordingly bestows greater pro- 

 portional elevation [thickness of trunk] on trees which are insulated, or 

 nearly so ; while their system of root, which, by necessity, is correlatively 

 proportional to their system of top, affords likewise heavier ballast and a 

 stronger anchorage, in order to counteract the greater spread of sail 

 displayed in the wider expansion of their branches. Trees in the interior 

 of woods, accordingly, are in general found to have their stems upright 



