SESSILE-FRUITED OAK. 267 



other trees when in a young state,* and that no Oak 

 or other tree, when cut down or uprooted, was ever found 

 to have anything like a perpendicular descending main root, 

 in any way commensurate to the perpendicularly ascending 

 trunk of the tree, above ground." 



The tap root of the young Oak, like that of the walnut, 

 and many other trees, only supports the plant during in- 

 fancy, or for a limited time, which may vary according 

 to the circumstances of soil, situation, and climate, but 

 so soon as the lateral roots are emitted, and become large 

 enough to undertake the support of the tree, from that 

 time Mr. Davis, whose observations on this subject are well 

 worth perusal,*f" remarks, " the tap root ceases to be useful 

 and at no distant period ceases to increase, and is very 

 soon not distinguishable from the other roots :" he after- 

 wards arrives at the conclusion, " that not only will an 

 Oak sapling or seedling from three to five years old, plant- 

 ed out with the tap root cut off, again root downwards, 

 sometimes singly, sometimes forked," but that the practice 

 of cutting off the tap root gives the plant new vigour, 

 and enables it after a few years to exceed in growth 

 the native tree, and further that large Oak trees, whether 

 native or transplanted, long before they become fit for 

 naval or other purposes, lose their tap roots altogether. 



But, supposing the advantages, in respect to early growth, 

 increased scantling, &c, of the two modes of propagation 

 to be ujaon a par, or even somewhat in favour of the native 

 plant, still we hold that in extensive planting operations, 



* This is the case with several of the pine tribe, which when quite young have 

 large tap roots, as any one may ascertain by examining seedlings of the pinaster, 

 and stone-pines. These cease to elongate as soon as the lateral roots which, in 

 most species run near the surface, acquire sufficient size to nourish the tree and 

 have taken firm hold of the ground. 



+ " Bath Soc. Papers," vol. xv. p. 51. 



