286 Culture of the British Oak. 



rally gnarled, and branching low down the stem. These, on 

 the contrary, have fine clear boles, 20 to 30 ft. before branch- 

 ing. I have taken the girths of a great number, and find 

 they average 2 ft. 3 in., 5 ft. from the ground. The average 

 girths of the same number of larch, spruce, firs, and beech, 

 which I consider the best nurses for the oak, were about 3 ft. 

 Now this difference is really so trifling, that I felt much sur- 

 prised and pleased to find this most proverbial of slow-growing 

 trees so close upon the heels of its neighbours, so notoriously 

 opposite in their habits. The elm averaged the same as the 

 spruce and larch, but one or two fine thrifty ones were full 

 4 ft. in girth. I also met with one oak 3 ft. 9 in., the same 

 height from the ground. 



These oaks have all been nursed by the larch, spruce, and 

 beech, which are gradually taken away, to give the oaks room. 

 While they are on the ground, they serve for a game pre- 

 serve ; when they are cleared off, the ground may be thrown 

 open for pasture, or underwood may be introduced, without 

 injury to the oaks, as they root so deeply. 



It will perhaps be supposed that the soil upon which I have 

 taken my observations is peculiarly rich ; but when I say that 

 it is a hazel sandy loam, with a substratum of loose gravel and 

 sand, you will appreciate its quality. To add to my conviction 

 that the oak requires nursing, hard by the before-mentioned fine 

 specimens are some poor solitary trees, which, with the same 

 soil, scarcely rear their drooping heads more than 10 or 12 ft., 

 and yet they have had the same care, i. e. large holes were 

 dug for them, they were kept clean, &c. ; but they will not 

 grow freely. In planting oaks the proportion ought to be 

 thus : 3000 trees per acre, at about 4 ft. asunder ; of these 

 1000 should be oaks, 1000 larch, 500 spruce, and 500 beech. 

 The three last will all be valuable in their turns, as they are 

 gradually felled, for rails, &c, and will amply repay the 

 planter; leaving, I will say, 800 oaks, allowing the loss of 200 

 for casualties. These, again, will require thinning before 

 being finally left to make large timber. How fine the pros- 

 pect of five or ten acres covered with straight, tall, thrifty 

 oaks, I need not say; for every Englishman will, I hope, 

 appreciate it. The oaks, of which I have given the girths, 

 were all transplanted. Were I asked for advice as to plant- 

 ing, I should say, plant larch, spruce, and beech, 2^ to 3 ft. 

 high, for, if smaller, they generally suffer from hares and rab- 

 bits ; and oaks 3^ to 4 ft. high, twice transplanted, and well 

 rooted ; for upon this more than any thing success depends. 



