YOUNG TREES, ETC. 55 



at once observed that the birch chooses the high 

 and dry spots, wliile the alder is seen luxuriating 

 in the swampy, low-lying grounds, and tliis at 

 once points out the circumstances favourable to the 

 growth of each. The alder, after being stripped 

 of its bark, is used for making charcoal. 



The Oak Tree {Quercus rohur) is the most 

 valuable of all our timber trees. The oak is well 

 known to be a long-lived tree, and its wood to be 

 of great durability. There is one point relative 

 to the oak which may not be so well known, and 

 which I tliink it proper to refer to here ; and that 

 is, that there are two species of oak generally found 

 growing in our forests — the one the true British oak, 

 and the other a species evidently introduced from 

 the Continent at a very early period, and which is 

 of a very inferior quahty as compared with our 

 true British oak. The Quercus rohur, or true Bri- 

 tish oak, has the acorn-stalks long, and its leaves 

 short, firm, and set-looking ; whereas the one intro- 

 duced, and of inferior value — Quercus sessiliflora — 

 has the acorn-stalks short, and the leaves long. 

 The acorns of the former grow singly, those of the 

 latter in clusters. 



The forests upon the continent of Europe consist 

 chiefly of the Quercus sessiliflora, and it is well 

 known that the timber from those forests is worth- 

 less ; and it is to be regretted that such worthless 

 oak is becoming abundant in Britain. I am informed 



