190 CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT OF OAK. 



a yet more decisive character to submit to their 

 consideration. 



Such of our ancient buildings * as have stood the 



* The devastations of war formerly, improvements in more 

 recent periods, and the dilapidations of time in addition to both 

 these causes, have swept away most of the ancient habitations 

 of our nobility and gentry, while the greater part of the old 

 churches and religious houses were dismantled at the Reforma- 

 tion. As many still remain, however, as will serve to confirm 

 and illustrate what is here asserted. I shall just mention two 

 or three examples in the northern part of the country, where 

 oak is now seldom found in a growing state, and where the 

 difficulty of raising it is supposed to be greatest. 



The most ancient part of King's College, Aberdeen^ that, 

 namely, which now forms the Chapel and Library, has its timber 

 work all of oak. This building is nearly 400 years old. It 

 contains some richly carved work of oak, which is as free from 

 decay as the day it came from the hands of the workmen. The 

 ceiling likewise, and the fronts of the galleries in the neigh- 

 ])ouring cathedral, a structure of equal age, and which is now 

 the Parish Church of Old Machar, are of the same material, 

 and in an equal state of preservation. Eighty miles north- 

 west of Aberdeen is Darnaway Castle, a seat of the Earl of 

 Moray, in the county from which he derives his title. The 

 roof of the noble hall of this building is of oak, and was the 

 work of Randolph, one of the most renowned followers of Ro- 

 bert Bruce. This hall likewise contains a chair and table, 

 both of oak, and of most ponderous weight, once the pro- 

 perty of the same hero. Another chair of the same material. 



