Further Notices respecting British Oaks. 577 



with respect to British oaks, is, to procure admission to the Earl 

 of Mansfield's grounds at Kenwood. There, there are a grea 

 number of trees of the Q. R. sessiliflora, differing most remark- 

 ably in their foliage and in their acorns ; as we expect to show in 

 some future number. There are a still greater number of Q. 

 jR6bur pedunculata, and various trees obviously intermediate be- 

 tween this sort and Q. R. sessiliflora. We mention these things 

 to show the inexhaustible source of gratification which a little 

 knowledge of any subject is calculated to afford to those who 

 will take the trouble of obtaining it ; and the above remarks, 

 though applied to the oak, are not less applicable to the com- 

 mon hawthorn, and to many other trees. Knowledge, in 

 short, is an inexhaustible source, not only of power, but of 

 pleasure. In these notes we use the terms Q. R. pedunculata, 

 and Q. R. sessiliflora, merely to show that we think them va- 

 rieties of the same form ; but, in practice, we think it quite 

 enough to use the names Q. pedunculata and Q. sessiliflora. 



The study of trees has advantages over several other out of door 

 studies (such as those of herbaceous plants, and insects), inasmuch 

 as it may be carried on while we are walking, on horseback, or 

 in an open carriage, along the public roads. What a fund of 

 enjoyment, for example, is to be found in walking or riding in the 

 suburbs of London, and noting the trees and shrubs which are 

 planted in front of the suburban houses ! It is curious to observe 

 the rare species that are sometimes to be found in these gardens, 

 and to reflect on the causes which placed them there. Most of the 

 houses in the neighbourhood of London are built several at a 

 time, and their gardens planted in like manner, by speculative 

 builders. In order to plant the gardens at the cheapest rate, 

 advantage is taken of nursery sales, of which there have been a 

 great many every autumn, during the last twenty years, partly 

 from nursery grounds being wanted to build on, and partly from 

 nurserymen becoming bankrupts. At these sales, the rare and 

 valuable articles are mixed with the common ones, in order that 

 the former may sell the latter; and in this way, many choice 

 plants have found their way into suburban gardens. Hence 

 there is, perhaps, no part of the world, with the exception of North 

 America (and we doubt even if America ought to be excepted), 

 where so many sorts of trees and shrubs may be seen on the 

 borders of the public streets and roads as in the neighbourhood 

 of London. The ligneous flora of the street in which we live 

 exhibits a greater number of rare trees, than all the suburban 

 gardens in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh put together (with 

 the exception of the nurseries and the Botanic Garden) did in 

 the year 1806. This ought to be a great encouragement to a 

 Londoner, whether he have a town or a suburban residence, to 

 study trees. We scarcely know any other study, unless it be 



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