438 OBSERVATIONS ON 



own raising. But I did not begin with beech till 1741, 

 and then by seed ; so that my largest is now at five feet 

 from the ground, 6 feet 3 inches in girth, and with its head 

 spreads a circle of 20 yards diameter. This tree was also 

 dug round, washed, etc." — Stratton, 24 July, 1790. 



The circumference of trees planted by myself at i foot 

 from the ground (1790). 



The great oak in the Holt, which is deemed by IMr. 

 Marsham to be the biggest in this island, at 7 feet from 

 the ground, measures in circumference 34 feet. It has in 

 old times lost several of its boughs, and is tending to 

 decay. Mr. iVIarsham computes, that at 14 feet length 

 this oak contains 1000 feet of timber. 



It has been the received opinion that trees grow in 

 height only by their annual upper shoot. But my neigh- 

 bour over the way, whose occupation confines him to one 

 spot, assures me that trees are expanded and raised in the 

 lower parts also. The reason that he gives is this : the 

 point of one of my firs began for the first time to peep 

 over an opposite roof at the beginning of summer ; but 

 before the growing season was over, the whole shoot of the 

 year, and three or four joints of the body beside, became 

 visible to him as he sits on his form in his shop. Ac- 

 cording to this supposition, a tree may advance in height 

 considerably, though the summer shoot should be destroyed 

 every year. 



FLOWING OF SAP 



If the bough of a vine is cut late in the spring, just 

 before the shoots push out, it will bleed considerably ; but 

 after the leaf is out, any part may be taken off without the 



