1798 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



there is little or no white wood." (p. 365.) The oak, Sang observes, " will 

 grow, and even become timber of considerable size, in soils of very opposite 

 natures. It thrives best, however, in strong deep loam, incumbent on gravel 

 or dry rock ; but in all soils in which there is any considerable proportion of 

 loam it will thrive in a greater or less degree. In low situations, where the 

 soil is deep and moist, it grows rapidly, and attains a great size ; but in such 

 places it is found to decay sooner than it does in a more elevated situation, 

 with a drier soil. In light soils of little depth, although it grows slowly, it 

 becomes firm in texture ; and the timber, though smaller in size, acquires a 

 state of maturity sooner than that grown on more cool and retentive soils. 

 In deep cool sand, it will root firmly, and arrive at a great size. In clay, 

 incumbent on till, to which all other trees, except the beech and the sycamore 

 have an aversion, the oak will grow and produce useful timber." (Plant. Kal., 

 p. 62.) Sir T. Dick Lauder, havingquoted the above passage, adds, " Our own 

 experience teaches us to corroborate Mr. Sang's opinion as to the variety of soil 

 in which the oak may be seen to thrive. As one example, we find it growing 

 vigorously on the banks of the river Findhorn, in every possible variety of soil, 

 and equally well in soil superincumbent on the stratified and on the primitive 

 rocks. It roots itself in the very face of the gneiss and granite precipices, 

 whence it shoots forth, in the wildest and most picturesque forms, over the 

 roaring rapids or deep abysses of the mountain stream ; and every now and 

 then we see that the slow but certain operation of the growth of its roots 

 within the fissures of the rock detaches huge masses of it, and hurls them into 

 the gulf below." (Laud. Gilp. y vol. i. p. 63.) " It is wonderful," says Evelyn, 

 " to consider how strangely the oak will penetrate to come to a marly bottom ; 

 so as where we find this tree to prosper, the indication of a fruitful and ex- 

 cellent soil is certain, even by the token of this natural augury only. Thus, by 

 the plantation of this tree and some others, we have the advantage of profit 

 raised from the pregnancy, substance, and depth of our land ; whilst by the 

 grass and corn (whose roots are but a few inches deep) we have the benefit 

 of the crust only." (Hunt. Evel., p. 91.) In Hampshire, in that part of the 

 New Forest called the Woodlands, wherever the oak tree clay, or yellow wood- 

 land clay, exists, its presence is more or less indicated by a spontaneous growth 

 of oak wood. "In all such situations," Vancouver observes, "this timber 

 may be cultivated to advantage ; but, where the natural soil of the oak tree 

 does not occur, it is as idle to attempt its cultivation, as to divert the laws of 

 nature in any other respect." (Agric. of Hamp. t &c., p. 308.) 



Situation. Upland situations are generally considered the best for oak to be 

 grown in for ship-timber ; and hedgerows better than close woods for the same 

 purpose. The reasons, it is generally considered, notwithstanding the opinions 

 of Nichols and Monteath, above given, are to be found in the comparatively 

 slow growth of trees in dry soils fully exposed to the weather ; and to the 

 greater degree of perfection to which the timber of every tree must arrive, 

 when its leaves are exposed to the influence of the sun and air on every side, 

 and from the summit of the tree to its base. Oaks, says Pliny, grown in 

 valleys are more stately, tall, and spreading, than those grown on mountains ; 

 but the timber of the latter is far better and finer-grained, and, consequently, 

 more durable. Mitchell is of opinion that the best oak for ship-building is 

 produced from a calcareous soil, in rather an upland situation, such as the 

 Sussex chalk. (Dend., p. 31.) Indeed, it is generally considered that the best 

 oak timber in England is produced in the county of Sussex. (See p. 614.) 



Propagation and Culture. The propagation and nursery culture of the oak have 

 been already treated of in our introduction to the genus (p. 1727.). The after- 

 culture of the common oak embraces the subjects of artificial shelter, pruning, 

 thinning, training, &c. No specific mode of pruning is applicable to the oak ; 

 except that, where the object is ship timber of the crooked kind, the trunks 

 ought not to be freed from branches for more than 12ft. or 15ft. in height, in 

 order to throw strength into the larger limbs. It may also be advisable, in 

 some instances, to stop the leading shoot for the same purpose. In general, 



