1756 



ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



->i 



not even the most 

 superficial observ- 

 er could ever for a 

 moment mistake it 

 for any other tree. 

 The Chandos Oak 

 (see fig. 1601., in 

 p. 1763.), though 

 it has nearly as 

 large a head, has 

 more the charac- 

 ter of a spreading 

 beech tree; and 

 theTibbertonOak 

 (see fig. 1587. in 

 p. 1745.), though 

 hif her, is more like 



an English elm. The Wootton Oak has all the attributes of beauty, dignity, 

 ami majesty, usually given to the oak tree ; it once formed part of the ancient 

 for 2st of Bern Wood, which was a favourite hunting ground of Edward the 

 Co.nfessor. " This forest was at that time infested by a wild boar, which was 

 at last slain by a huntsman named Nigel, whom the king rewarded for this 

 service by the grant of some lands, to be held by a horn ; a mode of livery 

 common in those days." {Lander's Gilpin, vol. ii. p. 69.) This horn is still 

 in the possession of the Aubrey family, to whom it has descended by the female 

 line from that of Nigel. " The Chenies Oak," Professor Burnet (Eidoden- 

 dron, pi. 2.) tells us, "is an old tree, which was going to decay in the reign 

 of Queen Elizabeth ; but, a farm-yard being established in its vicinity, it has 

 revived, from the manure having sunk down to its^roots, and has now several 

 healthy and flourishing branches. Tradition traces it beyond the Norman 

 Conquest." {Amcen. Quer., fol. 2.) 



Cheshire. The St. James's Chronicle, No. 5038., states that an oak was felled, 

 a few days before, at Morley in Cheshire, which produced upwards of 1000 ft. 

 of measurable timber. It girted 42 ft., and one branch contained 200 ft. of solid 

 timber. Its existence could be traced back for 800 years ; and it was supposed 

 to be one of the largest trees in England. As a proof of this, it may be added, 

 that the hollow trunk had, for some years before it was cut down, been used for 

 housing cattle. It is said that Edward the Black Prince once dined beneath 

 its shade. {Mart. Mill., art. Quercus.) The Forest of Delamere, in this county, 

 contains many fine oaks. In this forest " Edelfleda, a Mercian princess, 

 founded a little town for her retirement, which obtained the title of the 

 Happy City. The site is still known by the name of the Chamber of the 

 Forest." {Gilpin.) The Combermere Oaks, at Combermere Abbey, near Nant- 

 wich, are very fine old trees. One of these (Q. pedunculata) is 71 ft. high, 

 and the trunk girts 37 ft. at 3 ft. from the ground ; and another (Q. sessili- 

 flora) is 65 ft. high, and has a trunk 28 ft. in circumference at 3 ft. from the 

 ground. The latter is quite hollow ; and the inside, which is fitted up as a 

 room, will hold twelve people. Both these trees were described as old trees 

 when the abbey and demesne were granted to an ancestor of the present Lord 

 Combermere, Sir G. Cotton, who was steward of the household to Henry 

 VIII., in 1633. There is another old tree on an island in the lake, which 

 is still in a growing state, and which is 80ft. high, girting 24ft.; and the dia- 

 meter of the head is 75ft. 



Devonshire. The Forest of Dartmoor was formerly of great extent; and in 

 it, at Crockern Tor, was the seat of the Parliament of the Stanneries. The 

 forest has now nearly disappeared, but the moor still extends about 20 miles 

 by 1 1 miles, and wolves were found on it as late as the reign of Queen Eliza- 

 beth. The appearance of Dartmoor is rendered very picturesque, from the 

 abrupt eminences, crowned with huge piles of stones, and called Tors, which 



