THE OAK. 6 



" grafting- wax " or clay. The Cork-tree (Quercus suber) 

 and its varieties are grafted on the Turkey Oak. This 

 Oak grows very rapidly, and soon forms a large spread- 

 ing tree with a beautiful foliage. 



All the varieties of the evergreen Oak are most useful 

 and beautiful shrub trees, well adapted for the second 

 tier of plantation forming, and also as single and con- 

 spicuous objects on a well-devised estate. They will 

 bear cutting-in to any extent to keep them within the 

 desired limits. I know of no subjects among the large- 

 growing evergreens so well adapted for ornamental 

 break shelter as the Hex and the other varieties of ever- 

 green Oaks, possessing as they do a thick and dark 

 foliage. Many of them may be multiplied by seed, for 

 they bear seed as well as the deciduous kinds. 



Some theorists advise that the seed (acorns) should be 

 dried before sowing, and that the sowing should take 

 place in March. Now I beg to warn my reader against 

 any such practice, or a total failure will ensue ; for if 

 acorns are allowed to dry much, they will never vege- 

 tate. AVhat I have already said in reference to sowing 

 I can vouch for. 



There are about 112 or 114 varieties of the Oak, and 

 although soil and situation have a great deal to do with 

 the quality of the timber, yet there are some kinds of a 

 much tougher nature than others. The following dia- 

 grams will give some idea of the quality of Oak timber 

 grown on two different soils, and will serve as a guide 

 for the merchant in the purchase of standing Oak 

 timber. No doubt situation and the subsoil have every- 

 thing to do with the quality of the timber. Now it 

 must be admitted that well-grown English Oak is far 

 superior to any other in elasticity and durability. Oak 

 that is grown too quickly or too slowly is wanting in 

 quality. In the former case it will be porous and 

 brittle, with a larger proportion of what is commonly 

 called " sap," and is of little or no value. In the latter 

 case the timber will possess a considerably larger pro- 

 portion of "heart" than in the former, but at the age 

 of maturity, which is about one hundred years from 



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