HOW TO GROW GOOD TIMBER. 281 



habits, thick, gnarled, twisted, and more or less hori- 

 zontally inclined' branches. The leaves have com- 

 paratively few broad, wavy indentations, and are set 

 on a short leaf-stalk (petiole) (Plate I. fig. a), the 

 fruit being situate on long footstalks (peduncles), 

 varying from two to upwards of four inches (fig. b). 



This is the typical British oak, the pride of our 

 sailors, when men fought bravely and did not care to 

 vie with each other as to who should make the most 

 secure skulking-places. The tree — 



Whose roots descend 

 As low towards Pluto's realms, as high in air 

 Its massive bi'auches rise. The utmost rage 

 Of wintry storms howls o'er its strength in vaiu. 

 Successive generations of mankind, 

 Revolving ages nourish and decay, 

 Yet still immovable it stands, and throws 

 Its vigorous limbs around, and proudly bears 

 With firm and solid trunk its stately form, 

 A mighty canopy of thickest shade. 



Yikgil, Georg. ii. 291. 



This is the tree that seems to be longer lived than any 

 other in Britain, and though it would appear to be 

 the prey of nearly, if not quite, two hundred ^species 

 of insects, it has still had vigour of constitution to 

 survive them all ; and in many instances we might 

 point to brave old trees which must have been 

 veterans at the time of the Norman Conquest. Now, 

 however, they are old and staggy, with hollow trunks 

 truly — but what trunks ! — from forty to fifty feet in 

 circumference, presenting the following picture to us 

 as it did to Spenser : — 



There grew an aged tree on the green, 

 A goodly oak some time had it been, 

 Z 



