TREES IN NATURE 6i 



cerned by the texture of the bark) is best to 

 support burthens, for posts, columns, summers, 

 etc., for all which our English oak is infinitely- 

 preferable to the French, which is nothing so 

 useful, nor comparably so strong ; insomuch 

 as I have frequently admired at the sudden 

 failing of most goodly timber to the eye, which 

 being employed to these uses does many times 

 most dangerously fly in sunder, as wanting 

 that native spring, and toughness, which our 

 English oak is endued withal." And so, after 

 this inevitable patriotic note, he runs on ; 

 saying what kinds of oak-wood are best for 

 shingles, pales, lathes, cooper's ware, clap- 

 board, piles, and various other uses ; and, 

 after referring to the value of the mast for 

 the fattening of hogs and deer, he says, re- 

 gretfully, ''the very acorns themselves were 

 heretofore the food of men (as well as other 

 productions of the earth) till their luxurious 

 palates were debauched ; and even in the 

 Romans' time, the custom was in Spain to 

 make a second service of acorns and mast (as 

 the French do now of marrows and chestnuts) 

 which they likewise used to roast under the 

 .embers ". 



