28 THE OAK. 



It must have been cut from a tree of immense girth, as 

 it measures eighteen feet in diameter. It has been per- 

 forated in many places by bullets, supposed to have been 

 shot by Cromwell's soldiers. 



In digging away the foundation of the old Savoy Palace 

 in London, which was built six hundred and fifty years 

 since, the whole of the piles, many of which were of Oak, 

 were found in a state of perfect soundness, as also was 

 the planking which covered the pile-heads. ^ In clearing 

 the channel at Brundusiura, in Italy, " the workmen have 

 drawn up many of the oak-piles that were driven in by 

 Caesar. They are small Oaks stripped of their bark, and 

 still as fresh as if they had been cut only a month, though 

 buried above eighteen centuries seven feet under the sand. 

 These piles were driven in by Julius Cassar to block up 

 Pompey's fleet." ^ 



Speaking of the uses of the Oak generally, Loudon says, 

 " The wood of the Oak is more durable, in every state in 

 which it can be placed, than that of any other tree which 

 abounds in large quantities in Europe. It is hard, tough, 

 tolerably flexible, strong, without being too heavy, not 

 easy to splinter, and not readily penetrated by water ; and 

 hence its value in ship-budding. Some woods are harder, 

 but they are more fragile ; and others are more flexible, 

 but do not possess so much hardness, toughness, and 

 durability. Where the grain is twisted, no timber is so 

 well adapted for posts, either in house-building or in 

 setting up mills, engines, or large machines. No wood 

 lasts longer where it is subject to be alternately wet and 

 dry; and Oak piles have been known to endure many cen- 

 turies. Shingles, poles, and laths last longer of this wood 

 than of any other ; and casks, and every other description 

 of cooper's work, are most durable, and best adapted for 

 containing wines, ales, and other liquors, when they are 

 made of Oak. Oak timber is particularly esteemed for 



1 Burnet. 2 Phillips. 



