CHAPTER XIV. 



EUROPEAN TIMBERS — {Continued). 



ITALIAN OAK {Quercus). 



There are several varieties of very valuable oak trees 

 spread over the whole length of the Italian peninsula, 

 the island of Sicily, and also in the island of Sardinia, 

 which in form and quality differ but slightly one from 

 the other. 



Botanists might say they were all of erect growth, 

 yet they very rarely attain a perfectly upright position, 

 as, owing to their naturally curved and crooked form of 

 stem, they must necessarily be a little, more or less, 

 inclined to the horizon. They appear generally to attain 

 at least moderate dimensions ; but, judging from those 

 imported into this country, their best specimens are 

 inferior in size to many of our British Oak trees. 



The following forms of Italian Oak, viz., Quercus 

 Robur, and its variety Q. yEsculus, Q. pyrenaica (the 

 Pyrenean Oak), are the best in quality. There are also 

 the Q. cerris (usually known as the Turkey Oak), Q. Ilex, 

 Q. Suber (cork oak), and one or two others which are 

 not generally thought to be equal to those first men- 

 tioned. Some of these may, nevertheless, occasionally 

 compare favourably with them, especially when they are 

 found at a moderate elevation, or on the mountain sides. 



