PREFACE, 



The circumstances that gave rise to the 

 sheets now offered to the pubhc, were the 

 following. 



The author's attention was drawn, many 

 years ago, to the culture of the Oak, both 

 from observing the numerous failures that 

 took place in attempts to rear it in the part 

 of the country where he then was, and by 

 hearing frequent discussions regarding the 

 cause of these failures among those with 

 whom his employment led him to associate^ 



By reflecting that oak once grew plenti- 

 fiilly in Scotland, he imagined that the fail- 



