4 THE NATUEAL HISTOEY 



loam the soil becomes an hungry lean sand, till it mingles with 

 the forest ; and will produce little without the assistance of lime 

 and turnips. 



LETTER II. 



TO THE SAME. 



IN the court of Norton farm house, a manor farm to the north- 

 west of the village, on the white malms, stood within these twenty 

 years a broad-leaved elm, or wych hazel, ulmiis folio latissimo scabro 

 of Ray, which, though it had lost a considerable leading bough in 

 the great storm in the year 1 703, equal to a moderate tree, yet, 

 when felled, contained eight loads of timber ; and, being too 

 bulky for a carriage, was sawn off at seven feet above the butt, 

 where it measured near eight feet in the diameter. This elm I 

 mention to show to what a bulk planted elms may attain ; as this 

 tree must certainly have been such from it's situation. 



In the centre of the village, and near the church, is a square 

 piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly called The 

 Plestor. In the midst of this spot stood, in old times, a vast oak, 

 with a short squat body, and huge horizontal arms extending 

 almost to the extremity of the area. 1 This venerable tree, sur- 

 rounded with stone steps, and seats above them, was 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 1 703 overturned it at once, to the infinite 

 regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, who bestowed several 

 pounds in setting it in it's place again : but all his care could 

 not avail ; the tree sprouted for a time, then withered and died. 

 This oak I 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 farther concerning this area, when 

 we enter on the antiquities of Selborne. ' 



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. About twenty years ago the 



J [The site of the oak is now marked by a sycamore of moderate size.] 



