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XVI. A "Letter fr 077t John Zephaniah Hol- 

 wel, Efq\ F R. S. to John Campbel, 

 Efq\ F. R. S. giving an Account of a 

 new Species of Oak. 



Exeter, Feb. 24, 1772. 



S I R, 



Read April 1, TN rny curious rambles through the 

 environs of this city, I have been 

 tempted to vifit the nurfery of Mr. William Lucombe, 

 of St. Thomas, on the report of a very extraordinary 

 and new fpecies of oak, firfl difcovered and propa- 

 gated by that ingenious gardener ; and as this plant 

 appears to me capable of proving an ineftimable ac- 

 quifition to this kingdom, I cannot refill: the defire 

 1 feel of communicating to you fome particulars re- 

 lative to its hiftory and character, taken partly from 

 Mr. Lucombe's account of it, and my own obferva- 

 tions. This, I know, mult be moft acceptable to 

 you, who are fo laborioufly and laudably employed 

 in elucidating the various improvements and ad- 

 vantages your country is capable of. 



About feven years part, Mr. Lucombe fowed a 

 parcel of acorns, faved from a tree of his own 

 growth, of the iron or wainfcot fpecies ; when they 

 came up, he obferved one amongft them that kept 



his 



