NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 7 



square piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly 

 called "The Plestor." In the midst of this spot stood, 

 in old times, a vast oak, with a short squat body, and huge 

 horizontal arms extending almost to the extremity of the 

 area. This venerable tree, surrounded with stone steps, 

 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 

 Losel's, 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. 



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

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



