CHAP. CV. 



CORYLA'CEyE. QUE'llCUSc 



1903 



1782 



flexibility, even when dry. Du Hamel observes that the great weight of 

 this wood ought not to be considered a defect, even in the construction of 

 vessels ; because, if it is employed in the bottoms, it will serve instead of 

 ballast ; and, if it is employed on the upper parts, as it is much stronger than 

 the common oak, it may be used of small dimensions. He recommends using 

 it in preference to that of every other species of oak, wherever it can be ob- 

 tained of sufficient size ; more especially in cases where it has to resist friction. 

 Evelyn says the wood of the ilex is serviceable for many uses ; particularly 

 for handles to tools, mallet heads, mall-balls, chairs, axletrees, wedges, beetles, 

 pins, and palisadoes in fortifications. It supplies almost all Spain with the 

 best and most lasting charcoal. Bradley and others recommend the wood for 

 knee-timber for ships ; and it has been strongly recommended for all these 

 purposes, in a pamphlet by Isaac Weld, Esq. (See Gard. Mag. y vol. vi. 

 p. 580.) Boutcher recommends the tree for making warm and lofty hedges, 

 40 ft. or 50 ft. high, in a short time ; but he does not approve of planting them 

 near a house, on account of the litter made by the leaves, when these 

 are dropped in April and May. In Cornwall, Q. Plex is considered preferable 

 to every species of the genus for planting near the sea coast, either as an 

 ornamental tree there, or for sheltering plantations of the common, or of the 

 mossy-cupped, oak. The ilex has been strongly recommended for both these 

 purposes by Mr. Rutger (see Gard. Mag.y vol. ix. p. 544.), who refers to St. 

 Michael's Mount (Jig. 1782.), which was planted with pinasters, and clothed 

 with those trees for about 30 years, when they all began to decline ; and, at 

 40 years from the time they were planted, there was scarcely a vestige of them 

 left. About this time, plants of Q. Plex were substituted for the pines; 

 and these, which have now been planted about seven years, make a very fine 

 appearance. In Spain, Captain S. E. Cook informs us, the encinas, or 

 evergreen oaks, produce the best timber in the southern and middle regions 

 of the Peninsula ; but it is, he says, heavy, and unfit for most uses. " It is 

 now, unfortunately, the only fire-wood in most parts of Castile, which is hourly 

 diminishing the scanty stock that yet remains. The mode of cutting increases 

 the evil ; the practice of the peasantry being almost invariably to level the 

 whole tract which they attack. The consequence is, that there is a tolerably 

 vigorous spring from the stocks. This is soon cut, when a more feeble spring 



6h 



