THE OAK. 



427 



Bight be suspected. Though the trees in Allan- 

 ton park are a good deal exposed to the violence 

 of the winds, yet they do not require to be much 

 propped. 



The expense of this system of transplantation 

 is comparatively trifling; and if there be a sup- 

 ply of trees at not too great a distance, there is 

 no question that a park may be ornamented, or 

 land sheltered, by this means, much more cheapty 

 than by any other, and with the incomparable 

 advantage that it is done at once. After the 

 ground has been prepared, the whole expense of 

 removing and replanting the trees is not more 

 than from ten to thirteen shillings each, for trees 

 of from twenty-five to thirty feet in height ; 

 about half that sum for smaller ones ; and not 

 above two shillings or eighteen pence for shrubs 

 or brushwood. The following is Sir Henry's 

 account of his park, extracted from his "Planter's 

 Guide :"— 



" There was in this park originally no water, 

 and scarcely a tree or a bush on the banks and 

 promontories of the present lake and river, for 

 the water partakes of both these characters. 

 During the summer of 1820 the water was intro- 

 duced; and in that and the following year, the 

 grounds immediately adjoining were abundantly 

 covered with wood by means of the transplant- 

 ing machine. Groups and single trees, grove 

 and underwood, were introduced in every style 

 of disposition which the subject seemed to admit. 

 Where the turf recedes from, or approaches the 

 water, the ground is somewhat bold and irregu- 

 lar, although without striking features of any 

 sort; yet the profusion of wood, scattered over 

 a surface of moderate limits, in every form and 

 variety, gave it an intricacy and an expression 

 which it had never possessed before. 



" By the autumn of the third year only after 

 the execution, namely, 1823, when the Commit- 

 tee of the Highland Society honoured the place 

 with their inspection, the different parts seemed 

 to harmonize with one another, and the intended 

 effects were nearly produced. What it was 

 wished to bring forward appeared already pro- 

 minent — what was to be concealed or thrown 

 into the back-ground, began to assume that sta- 

 tion. The fore-ground trees, the best that could 

 be procured, placed on the eastern bank, above 

 the water, broke it into parts with their spread- 

 ing branches, and formed combinations which 

 were extremely pleasing. The copse or under- 

 wood, which covers an island in the lake, and 

 two promontories, as also an adjoining bank that 

 terminates the distance, was seen coming down 

 nearly to the water's edge. What was the most 

 important of all, both trees and underwood had 

 obtained a full and deep-coloured leaf, and health 

 and vigour were restored to them. In a word, 

 the whole appeared like a spot at least forty 

 years planted." 



Of the quercus roUir, or British oak, three 

 varieties, or perhaps distinct species, are enum- 

 erated. The. sessiflora, sessile-fruited or female 

 oak, has oblong, obtuse, deciduous leaves, which 

 are winged, sinuated, and have very short foot- 

 stalks, with the acorn growing on long footstalks. 

 The pedvnculata has oblong, subsessile, smooth, 

 sinuated leaves, with round lobes, and fruit ob- 

 long, stalked. The puhescens is distinguished by 

 oblong, obovate, sinuated leaves; downy beneath, 

 with obtuse, angular lobes, somewhat heart- 

 shaped, and unequal at the base. The fruit is 

 nearly sessile. 



The pedunculata is supposed to be the common 

 indigenous oak of England, being much more 

 common in woods than the others. The timber 

 is said to be whitish and hard, while that of the 

 sessile-fruited is reddish and brittle. We shall 

 proceed to enumerate some of the more remark- 

 able species of the oak found in other countries. 



Turkey Oak (quercus cerris.J This oak is 

 indigenous to Spain and the south of Europe. 

 The leaves are oblong and pointed, and frequently 

 indented in the middle like a lyre. They are 

 jagged and acute, pointed; a little hoary on their 

 under side, and stand upon slender footstalks. 

 The acorns are small, and have rough prickly 

 cups. Of this species five varieties are enumer- 

 ated : 



The rough- leaved, IniUcda. 

 Narrow-leaved, sinuata. 

 Lueombe, axoniensis. 

 Pulham, sejnpervireTLt. 

 Toothed, dentata. 



Italian Oak (q. esculus.) Tbis species is 

 found growing naturally in Italy and Spain. 

 The leaves are smooth, and deeply sinuated, 

 like winged leaves; some of the sinuses are ob- 

 tuse, and others end in acute points; they have 

 very short footstalks, the branches are covered 

 with a purplish bark when young; the acorns 

 are long and slender, the cups rough and a little 

 prickly,sittingclosetothe branches. Theseacorns 

 are sweet, and are frequently eaten by the poor 

 in the south of France in times of scarcity, and 

 ground and made into bread along with wheat 

 ilour. Of this species of oak the Romans made 

 their civic crowns. 



The Velonian Oak (q. cegilops.) A native of 

 the Levant and of Spain. The trunk rises nearly 

 as high as the common oak; the branches extend 

 very wide on every side, and are covered with a 

 grayish bark, intermixed with brown spots; the 

 branches are closely garnished with oblong, oval 

 leaves, about three inches long, and almost two 

 broad, which are deeply sawed on their edges; 

 most of the teeth turn backwards, and terminate 

 in acute points. The leaves are stiff, of a pale 

 green on the ujaper, and downy on the under 

 sides. The acorns have very large, scaly cups, 

 which almost cover them ; the scales are ligneous, 



