THE OAK. 



23 



same knot, t^^y ^i'^ commonly of unequal length ; 

 and one with large strides generally takes the lead. 

 Very often, also, three shoots, and sometimes four, 

 spring from the same knot. Hence the spray of 

 this tree becomes thick, close, and interwoven; so 

 that at a little distance it has a full, rich appear- 

 ance, and more of the picturesque roughness than 

 we observe in the spray of any other tree. The 

 spray of the Oak generally springs from the 

 upper, or the lateral parts of the bough : and it 

 is this which gives its branches that horizontal 

 appearance which they generally assume.*' 



This characteristic, which renders the Oak so 

 great a favourite with the painter, makes it no 

 less serviceable to the ship -builder, who selects 

 the crooked limbs, and applies them, under the 

 designation of hiee-tiirther^ to the purpose of sup- 

 porting the decks of ships. Trees which grow 

 at a considerable distance from each other are 

 the most productive of this kind of timber ; for, 

 thus situated, the branches have ample room to 

 follow the direction of the straggling roots, to 

 which they naturally incline. In some parts of 

 France, it is said, young trees are forced to as- 

 sume this curved mode of growth by the suspen- 

 sion of weights to their heads ; and in this coun- 

 try also experiments have been tried in order 

 to produce similar results ; but in most cases 

 with very doubtful success. This custom was 

 known to Virgil. 



" Continuo in sylvis magna vi flexa domatur 

 In burim, et curvi formam accipit iilmns aratri/' 



Georg. i. 



Evelyn says, I conclude with recommending 

 the bowing and bending of young timber -trees, 



