NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 7 



and seats above them, was the delight of old and young, 

 and a place of much resort in summer evenings ; where 

 the former sat in grave debate, while the latter frolicked 

 and danced before them. Long might it have stood, had 

 not the amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, to 

 the infinite regret of the inhabitants and the vicar, who 

 bestowed several pounds in setting it in its place again : but 

 all his care could not avail ; the tree sprouted for a time, 

 then withered and died. This oak I mention to show to 

 what a bulk planted oaks also may arrive ; and planted this 

 tree must certainly have been, as will appear from what 

 will be said farther concerning this area, when we enter on 

 the antiquities of Selborne. 



On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called 

 Losefs, of a few acres, that was lately furnished with a set 

 of oaks of a peculiar growth and great value ; they were 

 tall and taper like firs, but standing near together had very 

 small heads, only a little brush without any large limbs. 

 About twenty years ago the bridge at the Toy, near 

 Hampton Court, being much decayed, some trees were 

 wanted for the repairs that were fifty feet long without 

 bough, and would measure twelve inches diameter at the 

 little end. Twenty such trees did a purveyor find in 

 this little wood, with this advantage, that many of them 

 answered the description at sixty feet. These trees were 

 sold for twenty pounds apiece. 1 



In the centre of this grove there stood an oak, which, 

 though shapely and tall on the whole, bulged out into a large 

 excrescence about the middle of the stem. On this a pair 

 of ravens had fixed their residence for such a series of 

 years, that the oak was distinguished by the title of The 

 Raven-tree. Many were the attempts of the neighbouring 

 youths to get at this tyry : the difficulty whetted their 



1 In Bell's edition (vol. ii. pp. 243-303) there is a considerable correspon- 

 dence on trees and their culture between Gilbert White and Robert Marsham of 

 Stratton-Strawless, in Norfolk. This correspondence was first printed in the 

 Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society for 1876 (vol. ii. 

 pp. I 3 3-I 9 8).-[R. B. S.] 



