CHAP. cv. 



1745 



1586 



Q. sessiliflora at Studley Park. 

 Height 95 ft. ; girt of the trunk 16 ft. 1 in. ; diameter of the head 82 ft. 9 in. 



have been planted in masses within the present century, and never in the 

 slightest degree pruned, and which have yet straight stems, upwards of 60 ft. 

 high. The largest tree of Q. sessiliflora now standing in England, that we 

 have had any account of, is that in Studley Park, Yorkshire, of which Jig. 1585. 

 is a portrait, to the scale of 1 in. to 30ft., and which is 118ft. high. The 

 highest existing tree of Q. pedunculata, that we have heard of, is one at 

 Tibberton Park, in Herefordshire, of which fig. 1587. is a portrait, to the 

 scale of 1 in. to 50 ft., and which is 108 ft. high. We have accounts of several 

 other oaks, upwards of 100 ft. high ; but we know not to which species they 

 belong. It is not known that there is any difference in the longevity of the 

 two kinds ; there being examples of both which must be upwards of 200 or 

 300 years old. There are several oaks in England which are from 500 to 

 1000 years old, or upwards ; but, in most cases, we have not been able to 

 ascertain to which species they belong. 



Geography. The British oak is a native of mbst parts of Europe, from 

 Sweden to the Mediterranean ; of the north of Africa; and of the west of 

 Asia : and Q. pcduuculuta appears to be the more prevalent species ; especially 

 in the middle and northern regions. In Britain, the Q. pedunculata is by far 

 the more common : but Q. sessiliflora is found in various places throughout 

 the island; for example, in addition to those already mentioned (p. 1736.), 

 near Cuckfield, at Cowfold, and in different parts of St. Leonard's Forest, 

 at Coalhurst near Horshum, and at Goodwood, in Sussex. Mr. Borrer, 

 who has given us these localities, adds : " There is abundance of it about 

 Tunbridge ; and I particularly recollect it near Dalgelly ; and in profusion, 

 and varying much in its foliage, in some parts of Devonshire, and espe- 



5x2 



