AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 311 



ciimference instead of square, as reported, and of oak instead of 

 chestnut. 



The timber of the cathedrals of Chartres of Paris, St. George- 

 de-Bocherville of the Bishopric of Auxerre, the church of Saint 

 Denis of the date of the 13th century, cathedrals of Rheims, the 

 church of Saint Martin-des-Champs, the chapel of St. Germer, the 

 hospital de Tonnere and others too numerous to repeat, belong- 

 ing to the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, all appeared to us to be 

 of oak, and to have no resemblance with the chestnut which we 

 have in our forest to-day. 



However it must be said that the oak timber employed in those 

 ancient days, was of a species different from those generally used 

 in modern building! The peculiar character of those ancient 

 oaks was equal size from one end to the other of the timbers used ! 

 very little sap wood^ — a porous tissue, silky, straight grain, almost 

 total absence of nets, cracks, stiffness — same color almost at heart 

 and surface — fine and equal concentric circles and the timber 

 comparatively light. This kind of oak grew abundantly during 

 the middle ages — as late as 1600. The carpenters found it almost 

 formed for use — long bodies clean up to the lofty branches. By 

 counting their concentric rings we find them to be on an average, 

 (the largest of them,) from eighty to one hundred years of age. 

 Our forests no longer produce such trees. 



The oak and chestnut have affinity, and it is often impossible, 

 positively, to recognize the species of a specimen of either timber. 

 Many eminent judges of timber are embarrassed by it. 



Mons. Poiteau and others say, that the growth of the chestnut 

 is rapid — that a chesnut tree of two years growth from the seed 

 being cut down close to the roots will grow so as to yield — seven 

 years after a fine tree. 



[Journal de la Soeiete Imperiale et Centrale D'Horticulture, Napoleon 3d, Protec- 



teur. Paris. 



From the late number received we extract the following, viz : 



BLUE ROSES AND DAHLIAS. 



A letter read from Mr. Vergne, gardener, No. 84, route d'As- 

 nieres a Batignolles, inviting a visit from the society, by a com- 

 mittee, to examine his blue roses and dahlias. 



