CHAPTER III. 



ON THE FORM AND QUALITY OF TREES. 



TREES grown in sheltered places run up quickly and to 

 a great height ; they also produce the greatest length of 

 clear stem, the upward development preventing the 

 growth of branches low down. This is probably owing 

 to the want of sufficient light and air to enable them to 

 respire freely, and in situations where it occurs the 

 texture of the wood is soft in comparison with that of 

 trees grown in the open. They have, however, the 

 compensating advantage of being very free from local 

 defects. 



Many trees, as, for example, the Oak, when grown in 

 hedge-rows, or other exposed and isolated places, en- 

 joying a healthy circulation of air, take a freer and, 

 perhaps, more natural form of growth ; the branches 

 generally occurring lower down, and meeting with no 

 obstacle to their development, they assume every variety 

 of curve, and produce timber which is especially valuable 

 for naval purposes. Timber thus grown is of the 

 hardest and most compact kind, although subject to 

 many defects from the want of shelter from cold winds ; 

 the occasional breakages of the branches from various 

 causes ; and the injudicious lopping or pruning, which is 

 too often practised. 



