14 THE OAK. 



cast their leaves, even when every semblance of life has 

 departed from them, but retain them, probably as a pro- 

 tection for the embryo buds of the succeeding year, which 

 are formed many months before they begin to expand. 



The Oak is remarkable for sending out young shoots of 

 spring foliage (called Lammas shoots) late in the season, 

 when its proper leaves are fully matured ; and this is more 

 particularly the case when the latter have been injured. 

 On the 2nd of August, 1844, the exposed Oaks at Penrose 

 in Cornwall suffered severely from a violent storm from 

 the west. In the course of a few hours all the leaves 

 which had been unprotected from its influence shrivelled 

 up (without, however, acquiring the true autumnal tint) 

 and died. But not long after, a second spring, as it were, 

 set in, and the trees were partially restored to their former 

 flourishing condition. White, noticing a similar occur- 

 rence, says : " When Oaks are quite stripped of their 

 leaves by chaffers, they are clothed again, soon after mid- 

 summer, with a beautiful foliage ; but Beeches, Horse- 

 chestnuts, and Maples, once defaced by those insects, 

 never recover their beauty again for the whole season." 



In many of the rural districts oak-leaves and oak-apples 

 (to be mentioned hereafter) are worn by boys on the 29th 

 of May, the anniversary of the Eestoration of Charles 

 II., who is said to have concealed himself in an Oak-tree 

 from the Parliamentary soldiers. 



I must not omit to mention here that the Romans were 

 accustomed to bestow a wreath composed of oak-leaves, 

 called a civic crown, on any one who saved the life of a 

 citizen ; which was considered the highest service that 

 could be rendered to the State. 



" And oaken wreath liis hardy temples bore, 

 Mark of a citizen preserved he wore." 



Eowe's Lucan. 



Here, too, I may mention the absurd belief, once popu- 

 larly prevalent, that the Barnacle-goose owed its origin to 



