6 THE NATURAL HISTORY 



LETTER II 



TO THOMAS PENNANT, ESQUIRE 



In the court of Norton farm house, a manor farm to the 

 north-west of the village, on the white malms, stood within 

 these twenty years a broad-leaved elm, or wych hazel, 

 ulmus folio latissimo scabro of Ray, which, though it had lost 

 a considerable leading bough in the great storm in the 

 year 1703, equal to a moderate tree, yet, when felled, 

 contained eight loads of timber ; and, being too bulky 

 for a carriage, was sawn off at seven feet above the butt, 

 where it measured near eight feet in the diameter. This 

 elm I mention to show to what a bulk planted elms may 

 attain ; as this tree must certainly have been such from its 

 situation. 



In the centre of the village, and near the church, is a 

 square piece of ground surrounded by houses, and vulgarly 

 called The Plestor. In the midst of this spot stood, in 

 old times, a vast oak, with a short squat body, and huge 

 horizontal arms extending almost to the extremity of the 

 area. This venerable tree, surrounded with stone steps, 

 and seats above them, was the delight of old and young, 

 and a place of much resort in summer evenings ; where 

 the former sat in grave debate, while the latter frolicked 

 and danced before them. Long might it have stood, had 

 not the amazing tempest in 1703 overturned it at once, 

 to the infinite regret of the inhabitants, and the vicar, who 

 bestowed several pounds in setting it in its place again : 

 but all his care could not avail ; the tree sprouted for a 

 time, then withered and died. This oak I mention to 

 show to what a bulk planted oaks also may arrive : and 

 planted this tree must certainly have been, as will appear 

 from what will be said farther concerning this area, when 

 we enter on the antiquities of Selborne. 



On the Blackmoor estate there is a small wood called 

 Losel's, of a few acres, that was lately furnished with a set of 



