280 HOW TO GROW GOOD TIMBER. 



indeed that there is no possessor of broad acres who 

 does not esteem it a duty, regardless of profit, to provide 

 for a succession of forest kings, if only to beautify the 

 face of the country, and to leave the people of the 

 present, some grand living object to connect them with 

 the history of the past. In fact, planting of the 

 " British oak" has not only been considered a duty, but 

 followed out with the keenest pleasure by the country 

 gentleman. In so doing, the question has scarcely 

 until lately occurred, is the British oak always the 

 same ? or, are there not different species, or at least 

 varieties of the genus quercus which have been con- 

 founded by the planter ? To this question we iow 

 propose to address our inquiries. 



On referring to different authors, we shall find 

 mention of the following names as applied to the 

 British oak : — 



1. Quercus robur, Linn. 



2. ,, sessilifiora, Salisbury. 



3. ,, intermedia, Don. 



This method of nomenclature would, however, be only 

 tenable on the supposition that we considered the 

 trees so named specifically distinct ; but as we incline 

 to believe them to be only varieties — though highly 

 important as such — we intend to treat of them as 

 follows : — . 



1st. Quercus Robur pedunculata. 



2nd. „ ,, SESSILIFLORA. 



3rd. „ „ INTERMEDIA. 



1st. Quercus Robur pedunculata is readily distin- 

 guished in trees separate from others by its robust 



