586 



Mosl celebrated Oaks, Cedars, Larches, 



following observations : — "Of the age of this remarkable tree I regret to be 

 unable to give any correct data. I remember, when a boy, hearing that it was 

 called the Old Oak at the time of the Conquest ; but on what authority I 

 never could learn. Nevertheless, the thing is not impossible, if the specula- 

 tions of certain writers on the ages of trees be at all correct. Thomas South, 

 Esq., in a letter to the Bath Society (published in their Papers, vol. x.) 

 says, that ' a tree which, at 300 years old, was sound, and 5 ft. in diameter, 

 would, if left to perish gradually, in its thousandth year, become a shell of 

 10 ft. in diameter.' * Upon this calculation, 47 ft. in circumference cannot be 

 less than 1500 years old.' ' It is equally probable,' says Mr. Strutt, in his 

 Sylva JBritannica (p. 20.), 'that it should be more. Mr. Marsham calculated 

 the Bentley Oak to be 1300 years old when it was 34 ft. in circumference.' 

 An inscription on a brass plate affixed to the Winfarthing Oak gives us the 

 following as its dimensions : — 'This oak is in circumference, at the extremity 

 of the roots, 70 ft. ; in the middle 40 ft. 1820.' Now, I see no reason, if 

 the size of the rind is to be any criterion of age, why the Winfarthing Oak 

 should not at least equal the Bentley Oak ; and, if so, it would be upwards 

 of 700 years old at the time of the Conquest ; an age which might very well 

 justify its then title of the ' Old Oak.' It is now a mere shell — a mighty 

 ruin, ' bleached to a snowy white ; ' but it is magnificent in its decay ; and I 

 do wonder much that Mr. Strutt should have omitted it in his otherwise 

 satisfactory list of Tree-worthies. The only mark of vitality it exhibits is 

 on the south side, where a narrow strip of bark sends forth the few branches 

 shown in the drawing, which even now occasionally produce acorns. It is 

 said to be very much altered of late ; but I own I did not think so when I 

 saw it about a month ago (May, 1836), and my acquaintance with the 

 veteran is of more than 40 years' standing ; an important portion of my life, 

 but a mere span of Us own ! " — S. Taylor. Whittington, near Stokeferry, 

 Norfolk y June 24. 1836. This is the Q. R. pedunculata. 



Northamptonshire. — The Gog and Magog Oaks, in Yardley Forest, Mar- 

 quess of Northampton. The largest of them, Gog, measures 38 ft. at the 



