5S2 MONOECIA PODYANDRIA, 



An darach. GauUs. 



In the lowlands frequent ; in the highlands very 

 dwarfifh, fcldom rifing to a trunk, unlefs in (liel- 

 tered fituations near gentlemen's houfes. h . V. 



1 here are two varieties of this tree, the firft has 

 one or two acorns, fupported on long footftalks, 

 the leaves more deeply divided, and the wood 

 paler. 



The other has fix or feven acorns in a clufter, fup- 

 ported on very (hort footftalks : the leaves are 

 lefs divided, of a firmer and more laurel-like 

 texture ; the tree itfelf is more humble, and the 

 timber harder and higher-colour'd. 



The oak is remarkable for its flownefs of growth, 

 bulk, and longevity. It has been remarked that 

 the trunk has attained to the fize only of four- 

 teen inches in diameter, and of fome to twenty, 

 in the fpace of fourfcore years-. 

 As to bulk we have account of an oak belonging 

 to Lord Powis, growing in Brocjnfe/d wood^ near 

 Ltidkiv^ in SbrofJJm-e^ in the year i 764, the trunk 

 of which meakired 68 feet in girth, 23 in length, 

 and which, reckoning 90 feet for the .larger 

 branches, contained in the whole 1455 feet of 

 timber, round meafure, or 29 loads and five 

 feet, at 50 feet to a load. 



And, with refpefl to longevity, Linnaiis gives ac- 

 count of an oak 260 years old ; but we have 

 had fome traditions of fome in England (how far 



to 



